PML-N to robustly oppose witch-hunt: Shehbaz

Denies having contacted Asif Ali Zardari for any purpose

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif has said his party will support 'blanket accountability' but will strongly resist if selective individuals are targeted in the name of accountability.

"If the principles of free and fair trial and all the just criteria of accountability are met – blanket accountability for all – then we will extend our complete support," Shehbaz said on Wednesday in a meeting with a select group of reporters.

"But we are strongly opposed to witch-hunt in the name of accountability. Targeting certain individuals under the pretext of holding them accountable is not acceptable. We shall resist it. This political victimisation will affect democratic institutions in Pakistan."

Recently, it was reported that the PML-N reached out to the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) seeking the latter's support in grappling with the challenges both the political parties are faced with.



The top leaders of the two opposition parties including former premier Nawaz Sharif, Shehbaz, his son-in-law Imran Ali, Nawaz's daughter and son-in-law – Maryam and Captain Safdar, the PPP supremo Asif Ali Zardari, his sister Faryal Talpur and their close aides are facing serious cases of alleged corruption.

Recent reports suggested that Shehbaz and Zardari were in active backdoor contacts and were working on forging political cooperation to face these challenges. Shehbaz's recent meeting with the PPP leader Khursheed Shah also gave credence to these reports.

However, Shehbaz denied having contacted Zardari for any purpose. "Neither have I contacted him nor did I seek his cooperation on any matter." He said the PML-N sought cooperation of opposition parties to keep an effective check on the government and looked forward to working with the PPP in this regard.

"We want to establish a workable relationship with PPP. But to say that this involves any personal motives is wrong," he added. Earlier on Tuesday, Shehbaz reportedly met Khursheed Shah. Sources in PML-N said the meeting aimed at seeking the PPP's support for Shehbaz's candidature for chairmanship of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC).

But in what came as a setback for the PML-N, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry told some reporters on the sidelines of NA session earlier on Tuesday that the government intended to have the PAC chairman appointed from the treasury benches.

On Wednesday, Shehbaz once again asserted that he was the candidate for PAC top position. "Traditionally, leader of the opposition in the NA heads the PAC. However, if this government takes a U-turn on the matter, I can't say. The PTI and its government are in the habit of taking U-turns."

However, regardless of what Shehbaz said, a well-placed source in PML-N said the party leadership has proposed to the government to accommodate any other PML-N lawmaker as the PAC chairman if Shehbaz's candidature is not acceptable to it. However, the government is yet to respond.

On Wednesday, Shehbaz also slammed what he said was the media trial of his family, particularly his elder brother and former premier Nawaz Sharif.

"When Nawaz Sharif is put behind bars, it is termed accountability but when the Islamabad High Court suspends the sentence handed down by the accountability court, it is called a deal," he said.



To a question about a rift within the PML-N with senior cadres loyal to Nawaz Sharif resisting his 'reconciliatory' policies, Shehbaz avoided a direct comment but admitted that difference of opinion exist in the party.

"Terming the dissenting opinion as confrontation is not right. Every political party has people with different mindsets but they get along well. The PML-N is united under the guidance of Nawaz Sharif."

On the reforms in civil services and restructuring of local government (LG) system, Shehbaz said the PML-N would play its role to 'protect the essence of the LG system'. The PML-N will also resist every move to promote favouritism in bureaucracy in the name of reforming civil services, he said.

A source close to Shehbaz said the party president is concerned by reshuffle in Punjab of bureaucrats loyal to him, mainly senior police officers. He said the PML-N has decided to oppose civil services reforms including police reforms.