Pakistan

PPP stood by the army even when Bhutto was hanged: Kaira

PPP leader says party has always strengthened the national institution

Web Desk June 18, 2015

PPP leader Qamar Zaman Kaira. PHOTO: PID

Lashing out at political leaders for misconstruing former president Asif Ali Zardari’s statement, Pakistan Peoples Party leader Qamar Zaman Kaira clarified on Thursday the party stands by the national institution.

“The PPP has always stood by the army,” Kaira asserted, while addressing the media.

Read: Angry outburst: PPP co-chairman fires broadside at establishment

Kaira said there is a "need to fully understand the context of the former president’s speech.”

He said the PPP has always strengthened the national institution. "Even when Bhutto was hanged, we blamed Ziaul Haq and his accomplices. We never blamed the institution."

Claiming that the former president had always lauded the army’s role in eliminating terrorism Kaira said, “We have already said we don’t want any hurdles in the military operation. Why then would you think we would say something that is considered anti-establishment.”

“Political leaders have misconstrued Zardari’s statement to make it more anti-establishment,” he added.

Read: PPP labels Zardari's anti-army comments as personal opinion

In a surprising outburst ostensibly against the powerful security establishment, PPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari said on Tuesday that politicians were better suited to running the affairs of the country. “You are here for only three years,” he had said in an apparent jab at the army chief.

Read: With one voice politicians denounce Zardari’s tirade

Warning the establishment, which he accused of tarnishing PPP’s and his image, Zardari had said, “Anyone who tries to disturb us will get a befitting response. Be wary! If this doesn’t stop now, I shall come out with a list of generals who have been accused starting from the time Pakistan came into being. And then you’ll spend the rest of your lives providing explanations.”

Earlier, the PPP Central Working Committee termed Zardari’s statements against the military as his personal opinion,which was not endorsed by the party.

COMMENTS (25)

miristan | 9 years ago | Reply Because he was guilty.

zain | 9 years ago | Reply Oh shut your gob PPP. You politicians have ruined everything. Our politicians are a major threat to Pakistan. Yes PPP did good things for Pakistan that enabled it to be strong;however, Pakistan and its people have only gone through utter misery because of corruption, income inequality, wealth inequality, and rising illiteracy. Our leaders have failed to unite the tribes and provinces. I think our politicians are the biggest threat to this country. We always blame the west for all fuckery but i believe our politicians have led to this misery. All these parties are cancer to Pakistan's prosperity.

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Zahid | 9 years ago | Reply Not explaining too much shouting opolg. Sorry let comes our hero General Raheel Sharif he will show PPP and corrupt Zardari party Zardari party has no place in Pakistan Army can play a roll to bring back Pakistan money

Ranjha | 9 years ago | Reply Whom the Gods wish to destroy, at first they make mad! Bye bye PPP. Bye bye Kaira sahib -- whatever reputation you had left will never recover from the freak show you put on today.

Parvez | 9 years ago | Reply So, Mr.Zardari has become like Altaf Bhai........now when will Mr.Zardari resign ?

msh | 9 years ago | Reply The economic down turn of Pakistan was started by Bhutto'PPP by Nationalizing industry ,schools,and institutions in 70 ies .Last nail in the coffin was nailed by Zardari PPP through his corruption,bad governance and loot.

MSH | 9 years ago | Reply Mr Kaira ,no point in defending a person who is the corrupt from head to toe.He used his office not only to loot and plunder but corrupted all the institutions of country. This man must be tried and given maximum possible punishment.

ibrahim marghoob | 9 years ago | Reply Well as a matter of fact i have respect for mr.kaira but i would want to draw the attention to the al zulfiqar foundation amd after hanging or sentencing of bhutto..several party members of PPP were allegedly in contacts with our enemies. This was so evident that even benazir didnt want to keep those personalities involved in rescuing her father. At this point i totally disagree. The fact is zardari has to face the brunt of his wrong doings and corruption.

Shahid | 9 years ago | Reply Zardari knows this time military is serios to dig into his and his cronies crimes.He has made a pre emptive strike to blame every thing discovered as a result of political victimisation for his tirade against the army.

faisal | 9 years ago | Reply @Tipu: Point is : Who is more honest or efficient? The establishment of the PPP ? I fully support democracy and I agree that NS has delegated his authority and Imran is establishment's guy. My point : is it a good thing or a bad thing? Is the establishment non-patriotic?

Jibran | 9 years ago | Reply Now everyone understands whose language parrots like Zulfikar Mirza, Saulat Mirza, Faisal Raza Abidi, Rauf Klasra, and Shahid Masood were speaking.

Tipu | 9 years ago | Reply There has already been a soft coup in the country. Nawaz Sharif has relegated all authority minus metrobus and nandipur to the GHQ. Quetta is always ruled by the army. KPK is being run by an agent of the establishment. Only Sindh stands in defiance of the total hegemony of the establishment. It should never give in.

imran | 9 years ago | Reply Not a single LeJ terrorist has been arrested by the rangers. Only Sindh police is going after the banned outfits. The same LeJ that thrives in and around Quetta, a city literally ruled by FC and the Corp commander. And this action against the banned outfits is hurting the rangers.

Jibran | 9 years ago | Reply Very true. It is always a few rogue generals behind every martial law, behind the sectarian outfits, behind extremism, behind massive landgrabbing, behind IJI, behind PTI, behind forged elections, behind political murders, behind memogate, behind every staged chaos, behind every soft coup, behind good Taliban, behind ill-conceived ill-planned failed adventurisms against neighbors, behind milking dry national resources, behind missing persons, behind every dharna .... and the list goes on.

Rex Minor | 9 years ago | Reply He said the PPP has always strengthened the national institution. “Even when Bhutto was hanged, we blamed Ziaul Haq and his accomplices. We never blamed the institution. You should also admit that this on reflection was a cardinal mistake and the Insitution should hve been reformed! Now you have new monsters trying to follow up on mr Haq policy of violence and cruelty in the civilian arena and thanks to Mr Zardari whose soul has suffered more than the average Pakistani at the hands of the military. Rex Minor

Asif | 9 years ago | Reply Zardari sahib, You take the Army out of equation then you would have TTP running wild throughout the Pakistan - you and your co-horts either would have fled the country or buried 6 feet under the Earth. So before you open your *&@$ ..... think.

Basheer DEST | 9 years ago | Reply Mr Zardari..!!! Whats gotten you so wound up over allegations... If u r so pious and righteous then prove yourself innocent rather than lashing out at the army..!!!! Your words are meaningless and your threats should be held accountable for.

JD | 9 years ago | Reply Damage control initiated. The lower level leaders will now make fool out of themselves to protect their sarbarahs.

Shakil | 9 years ago | Reply Failed attempt to defend Zardari and his corruption!

imran ghori | 9 years ago | Reply Economic terrorist zardari,, after billions dollars carrouptions in federal govt,,, he want to continue his carrouption in province govt,, salute to general raheel sharif for its action against carroupt, criminal, landmafia, zardari,, inshallah action against zardari continue, nation standing with the pak army

baig | 9 years ago | Reply PPP and Zardari are most corrupt, they are sucking Pakistan's blood. It is hateful !

Ih | 9 years ago | Reply Apologists abound,"you really did not understand what he was saying". It is taken out of context etc,etc. None of the excuses hold water. Zardari does not want his sources of income and his cronies impaired. May be Rangers were getting too close for comfort. Best for country let all the corruption wash out in public. I would not hold my breath though.

raider | 9 years ago | Reply so myopic to emphasize that status quo parties stood by institutions, these milk institutions in the name of democracy for their vested interests and manipulate institutional structure for political ends, they never tolerate any honest personality to be head of any institutions and if even there exist any unfortunately, all stand against them, his personal life doomed to be threatened, his children and siblings and his bread and butter find dwindling narrowed space on this land of pure. autocrats play havoc with nations but i think one thing to be acknowledged that they establish new institutions which do sustainable contribution in over all being welfare state, like HEC, rescue 1122, NADRA, cardiology institutes etc, but as political leaders take charge they ruin institutions even more bad mannered than call autocrats

Ch. Allah Daad | 9 years ago | Reply These explanations and apologies would only be accepted if PPP promises to join grand alliance against PML(N).

Ali | 9 years ago | Reply But money and the corrupt PPP set up is more important than ZAB. Asif Ali Zardari was willing to sacrifice prime ministers but never his money he stashed away in Swiss bank accounts. The NRO (national robbery ordinance) was just an agreement between him and the Sharifs not to pursue each others corruption so that they could act with impunity. Now Zardari is getting angry because money is at stake and the generals are threatening to bring it all to a close. When he was in power and when he was claiming his 10% he never rallied against the army because they did not disturb his set up.

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