Memogate: Zardari, Gilani should resign, says Hashmi

PML-N leader says Zardari, Gilani using Husain Haqqani as a scapegoat.

MULTAN: Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) senior vice president Makhdoom Javed Hashmi said on Saturday that President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani should resign in light of the Memogate issue to save the democratic process in Pakistan.

Speaking during a press conference in Multan, Hashmi said that it could be the biggest blow to democracy in Pakistan if the memo is proven to be real.

Hashmi said that Zardari and Gilani were using Husain Haqqani as a scapegoat and that they should avoid doing so.

“If the government has any complaint with the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and the armed forces, it should be discussed in parliament,” he said. “If the government does not want to discuss it in parliament, it is not their right to discuss it at external forums as these are our internal matters and the government should discuss them at internal forums.”

Hashmi said that the government had made a mockery of commissions. He added that the nation should be taken into confidence over the memo and everything should be shared with them.

“If the memo is proven to be false, they will be heroes of the nation,” said Hashmi.

The PML-N leader said the rulers should “accept their blunder or some other power will force them to accept it.”

‘Qureshi should join PML-N’

Hashmi said that Shah Mehmood Qureshi should join PML-N.

“I respect Qureshi. I also respect Imran Khan, but Qureshi should join PML-N,” he said.

Hashmi said he had nominated his son-in-law for NA-148, the seat which fell vacant after Qureshi resigned.