President Zardari also claimed responsibility for PML-N’s success in Punjab in the 2008 elections, saying Nawaz had intended to boycott the polls before he convinced him to contest them.
President Asif Ali Zardari said on Wednesday that Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif has denied his request for a visit.
The President had intended to visit the rival party chief in order to condole the death of the latter’s brother Abbas Sharif.
Talking to visitors at Bilawal House, Lahore on Wednesday, President Zardari complained Nawaz denied him a visit despite owing his life to him. He claimed he had saved the PML-N chief from being hanged by former president Pervez Musharraf.
President Zardari maintained that he became ‘friends’ with Nawaz after the latter was imprisoned by Musharraf following the 1999 coup. He claimed that at the time, Musharraf had been pressuring Justice Rehmat Hussain Jafri to severely punish Nawaz.
“I had some acquaintance with Justice Jafri, and when I heard Musharraf was pressuring him into punishing Nawaz, I advised him to settle the case only on merit,” he said, adding that he was successful in convincing Justice Jafri against announcing capital punishment for the PML-N chief.
President Zardari also claimed responsibility for PML-N’s success in Punjab in the 2008 elections, saying Nawaz had intended to boycott the polls before he convinced him to contest them. He also claimed that PML-N got votes under the banner of reconciliation with Benazir Bhutto.
Tickets for upcoming polls
President Zardari has finalised the list of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) candidates for National Assembly (NA) seats from central Punjab and has constituted a parliamentary board within the party for awarding tickets to PPP aspirants across the province, The Express Tribune has learnt.
According to sources, the board comprises former premier and PPP vice chairman Yousuf Raza Gilani, MNAs Imtiaz Safdar Warraich and Faryal Talpur, PPP central Punjab president Manzoor Ahmad Wattoo, Leader of Opposition in the Punjab Assembly Raja Riaz and Senator Jehangir Badar.
President Zardari and PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, meanwhile, have urged party office bearers in districts across Punjab to submit reports to the party’s newly constituted parliamentary board so that it may finalise the tickets for the elections.
Meeting with Gilani
Former prime minister Gilani called on the President and his son at Bilawal House, Lahore, where he was appointed head of the newly constituted PPP parliamentary board.
Sources said during the meeting, Gilani took the party leadership into confidence about his application against being barred from elections for five years in the Supreme Court (SC).
Talking to journalists following the meeting, Gilani expressed hope that his disqualification would be overturned by the SC, allowing him to contest the upcoming polls. Meanwhile, he maintained the demand for carving out two new provinces from Punjab was ‘impractical’. He accused PML-N of not wanting to end the deprivation of the people of South Punjab.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 14th, 2013.
COMMENTS (52)
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I thought President has to be neutral. Pakistani Media is not going to discuss this issue. Instead they will waste thier time on Qadri verdict. Elections cant be free and fair if Zardari remains the President. He can't hold two positions at a time. Shame on Nawaz and all the parties in the parliament for supporting him all these years. Imran is right. Zardari should resign before the elections. Wake up Pakistan.
PTI for the win!
"Tall claim: I saved Nawaz from being hanged says Zardari" +++++++++++++++++.+++++++++++++++ Congrats first ever single line editorial !
Good start... How abt saving the common man of Pakistan (from all the ills - poverty, bigotry , illiteracy) now?
God Knows....!!!!!!!!!!! :p
Happy valentine day Nawaz Shreef,, By Zardari
Ah...now we understand why nawaz used to say if everyone leaves zardari I will still support him. Sad that he is now refusing to meet his best friend. In the spirit of valentine day zardari should send some flowers to mian sahib. I'm sure mian sahibs heart will melt at this gesture and he will invite zardari to raiwind for some qeema naans and garam garam chai!
Just to cover inability of his 5 year term. PLM(Q) should be worried.
At present only Zardari and Nawaj with their coalision partner are in a position to play an active role in the politics of Pakistan . Let them only in the ring and see the game , It will be really intresting and good for Pakistan .
@Mirza: yes we do. It was Nawaz Sharfi, for whoes support this most corrupt govt in Pakistan's history remained in power for 5 yrs. PPP leaders are not NEW corrupts. things were all known at time of Bhurban Declaration
Aha! So now we understand when Imran Khan says there is a 'Muk Muka', between the two.
If you people don't vote for PTI this time, aglay paanch saal phir bugat na. What have these 2 parties done for the country in over 20 years in power combined? Nothing besides building a couple of roads and filling up their foreign bank accounts. Watch Imran Khan with Jasmeen interview last night on Samaa TV. He says that he remembers when he was growing up, Malaysian and South Korean leaders used to come to Pakistan to learn how to develop, look where they are now and look at where we are.
@Mirza: insan question.
I also saved titanic from sinking. Then, I woke up.
And what about Zardari who came in Pakistan by National Reconciliation Ordinance 1997 made and implemented by General (R) Pervez Musharraf and become president of Pakistan and In other words what about NRO certified,approved and elected Zardari?????
@Mirza:
> Can PTI supporters still claim them a friendly alliance of old friends?
We remember the last 4 years. So yes it is just a drama for Elections 2013.
For the Love of God... this time PTI!
Wow President of a country says "He had an acquaintance with a man from Judiciary". See how powerful feudal lords are, they can change every verdict according to their wish....isn't it a Contempt of a court???
Not giving time for condolence is against our cultural norms. NS Sharif being cultured man had given Zardari time, no matter how much that would have been exploited by PTI. Any cultural norms are being slaughtered on the political alter which is very bad, it is cultural and norms that can bring even enemies together by shedding the enmities of yesterdays.
will he receive Another contempt of court Notice ?
So it's out in the open, our judges can be manipulated by politicians! Zardari should be tried for Treason for impeding and tampering with rule of the law and the land.
And he helped you become president and saved ur government for five 5 years.
Move on Zardari. You condoled MNS on phone after hand other parties decision to oppose TuQ and support for democratic process. it took him two to three days to call.
So justice is dictated by politicians?
correctly said by Zardari. Geo Zardari
What a joke....
Time is up for AZ. The moment of truth has arrived, there are no coffins to be exploited. It is now your dismal performance during past 5 years, which stares back at you.
Zardari, whatever you say. Fact is that you and Nawaz are ONE UNIT
Yeah right Zardari . . . and then you sent him to Saudi while Mush just stood by?
Even the most naive person cannot call this statement as Muk Muka. I dont know why PTI supporters are so blind.
"despite owing his life to him"......Zardari, remember you are not a God (Na`ouzo billahi min zalik) that you can save someone from death.
He is obviously in Lahore to dent PML-N. What better he could have made out of this opportunity than by dispelling an impression of "muk-mukka" with PML-N to give another opportunity to the PTI type mindset to open their fire against NS. It's obviously PML-N vs. the rest of the world.
Valentine gift........ :-)
Don't worry..that's how old lovers celebrate Valentine's day!
No wonder we don't have a good film industry. Our politics is just that entertaining. PTI all the way in the coming elections !!!
AZ thiught it was 1st April:)
Samjhota Express
If Nawaz Sharif denied him a visit, that is very immature and childish. After all Zardari is the President and at the same time a politician. In case of a threat of any coup, political parties are where Nawaz would like to fall back on.
So zardari is the saviour of Pakistan..its time for N Sharif to return the favor.
What a joke, a person rotting in jail himself, claims saving the life of some one else.
World`s most stressful job is being a President of Pakistan.
you are the King sir,you can do anything!
See, We all knew it was all mukk-mukka between Nawaz Sharif and President Zardari (i hate him but need to give him respect due to he is president of Pakistan) even before the 2008 election. Imran Khan was right... my next vote will go to PTI
Haha what joke, I didn't know that April fool this year came early in between the raiwind neighbours. There is love in the air.
Dear Zardari u saved his life and he saved ur govt for 5 years it's his turn now so plz step down and follow misaq e jamhooriat
And the list of grievances against zardari grows
Nawaz and Zardari are Bhai Bhai. This we know since day one. So not surprising at all.
Can PTI supporters still claim them a friendly alliance of old friends?
WOW! looks like the claws are out. They both seem apprehensive of each others clout in thier main provinces. Just wanting to get more seats and after being the majority they can continue with their corrupt practiices for another term.
Please Pakistan, stand up and vote informatively. Dont waste your votes on these family oriented parties who have given us nothing except heartache.