Though President Asif Ali Zardari’s actions foretell that the government might not complete its tenure, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) will not join attempts to topple the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) government, PML-N leader Saad Rafiq said during a press conference at the Karachi Press Club on Wednesday.
Rafiq had arrived in Karachi with PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif whose visit to Sindh ended on Tuesday.
Rafiq said that the PML-N and the PPP were neither going to repeat the same confrontational experience of 1990 nor would the former play into the hands of undemocratic forces for destabilising the government.
He said that Sindhi nationalist leaders have asked Nawaz Sharif to strengthen PML-N’s position in the province and play a role on national level.
“The party leadership should have arrived in the province long ago, but continued victimisation by former president Pervez Musharraf had made this impossible,” he added.
He also said that Sindhi nationalist parties and the PML-N have agreed to work together to rid country of corruption.
He further said that Balochistan should be handed over to the civilian government and freed of security forces’ control, adding that discussions should be held with even those who are fighting for the independence of the province.
Rafiq said that a policy of give and take should be adopted with respect to Balochistan because it is a necessary step to ensure the country remains united.
Regarding the future relationship of the PML-N and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, he said that he would not say anything that could add fuel to fire.
However, he added, every political party should learn from its past mistakes, and that if any party resorts to armed politics, its role in the national politics would be minimised.
He also said that the doors of employment and educational opportunities in Karachi should not be closed for the people residing in other districts of Sindh.
He demanded cancelling allotment of some 3,000 acres of precious coastal land handed over to individuals and multinational companies during Musharraf’s tenure. He also demanded an inquiry into allotting lands at cheaper prices.
Rafiq said that his party does not want to provoke Pakistan to go at war with the United States of America, adding that America was not in a position to stop its aid to Pakistan at this point in time.
He said that Pakistan could stop the supply of goods to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation’s forces engaged in Afghanistan.
In protest against continued drone attacks in the country, Pakistan could also suspend the facility of America using the former’s ports and airports, he added.
He warned the government that the PML-N would protest inside and outside the parliament if the government does not show any interest in implementing the parliament’s joint resolution passed in the recent sitting held for a briefing on American action against Osama bin Laden.
Rafiq added that the PPP had always been against military establishment, but the party headed by Zardari has accepted military dominance in the country.
