Pakistan

PPP out of options: Sharif

Sharif calls on President Zardari to apologise to the nation because the ruling party had run out of options.

Express October 03, 2010

Former prime minister and chief of his own faction of the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz Sharif on Saturday called upon President Asif Zardari to apologise to the nation because the ruling party had run out of options and change was inevitable now.

In an interview with a private TV channel, Sharif renewed his call for the government to reform itself. “People had voted the PPP to power and pinned great hopes in its leader. Now the PPP should come up to their expectations,” he said. In the same breath he warned that if the PPP-led government failed to deliver, the call for change will become stronger.

The former two-time prime minister, whose government was toppled by then army chief Pervez Musharraf in blood-less coup in October 1999, said he was opposed to the military’s interference in politics. However, he regretted that the incumbent government lacks dynamism. And in a time of political instability, chances of the military’s interference in politics increase.

Referring to the recent meeting of the power troika, Sharif said his government had also been assured of a kind of confidence as was expressed in Sunday’s meeting at the presidency. He was referring to Gen Musharraf’s coup against his government.

He claimed that Musharraf had distributed huge sums of money among the Q-League shortly before the 2008 general elections. And that he (Sharif) had proof of it. Sharif said that Q-League’s tickets were issued at the Punjab Governor House.

The PML-N chief vowed not to indulge in horse-trading or extend his party’s blind support to anyone. Referring to the unification of various factions of the Muslim League under Pir Pagra, Sharif said he did not know who was behind it.

Separately, Sharif said that continuing drone attacks in tribal regions were straining relations between Pakistan and the United States. In a meeting with the outgoing US Ambassador Anne W Patterson on Saturday, he added that no one would be allowed to violate the country’s sovereignty.

The post-flood situation in Pakistan also came up for discussion at the meeting. And Sharif urged Washington to help Islamabad tackle the devastation.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 3^rd, 2010.

COMMENTS (3)

Aftab Kenneth Wilson | 13 years ago | Reply Yes Sir, Mr. Zardari is out of all options expect doing all what you did to him during your rule as PM of Pakistan.. If you and your party is ruling Punjab it is due to the same person whom you curse day in and day out. Secondly Mr. Musharaf also did lot of favors to you and your family. He allowed you to leave the country along with your belongings. He also gave permission for medical treatment in UK while you were in Saudi Arabia. He could have done what Zia Ul Haque did to Mr. Z.A. Bhutto. Please do not harm those who did favors to you. All know who is who in Pakistan because all the leadership including PPP are sailing in the same boat if one starts talking on corruptions, tax evasions, foreign business and assets etc.....This is the last chance for all Political Forces be they tagged with any religious label, you all have to be one if Democracy is the only solution of all ills. Don't side with any fraternity to derail the whole system. Remember what Mr. PM, Y. R. Gillani said "Together we came and together we will go".

Mariam | 13 years ago | Reply NS has no clear stance on the present situation of the country. As a leader of the second biggest party in the country, people are looking towards him with hope, but all he is doing is to wait and see that when things turn in his favor.

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