Pre-poll rigging: Memon dubs apex court verdict a ‘milestone’

Lashes out at Sharif brothers after Asghar Khan case ruling.

KARACHI: Sindh Minster for Information Sharjeel Inam Memon on Monday dubbed the Supreme Court’s decision on the Asghar Khan case a “milestone” in the political history of Pakistan.

The “political orphans” and “tanga parties” had stabbed democracy in the back with the connivance of the establishment, said an official statement released by the minister’s office.

Memon said it was important to hold those politicians accountable for accepting money during the 1990 elections and establishing the Islami Jamhoori Ittehad (IJI), in order to uphold the integrity of the country.

He said “history would never forget the nation” if those who became prime minister and ministers via “sham elections” are not held liable.

He added the real face of the Sharif brothers had been exposed and that they should offer an apology for their political sins. He also said that the Sharif brothers, who head the country’s largest opposition party PML-N, should quit politics.

“Nawaz Sharif has no justification to remain in politics while his younger brother Shahbaz has assumed the so-called title of Khaadim-e-Aala and is trying to fool people.”

Terming the Sharif brothers “imposters”, Memon said they would never let democracy to flourish. “Their minds are filled with evil ideas of monarchy which keeps them away from the [problems of] common people.”

Memon said the Pakistan Peoples Party has always raised its voice for the rights of the people after coming in to power “through a democratic process.”

He said a detailed verdict of the Supreme Court should reveal the names of all the politicians who took money from intelligence agencies and the amount they were handed. “They [Sharif brothers] should be disqualified so the politics of the country can be purged of this stinky fish.”

He appealed to the Supreme Court to recover the money with interest and confiscate the property of the guilty politicians.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 23^rd, 2012.