We can return fire with fire; if you throw a stone at us, we can retaliate with a bullet, but we have stopped our workers from reacting, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief coordinator in Sindh Saleem Zia declared on Monday.
Addressing a protest rally in front of the Karachi Press Club (KPC) against attacks on party offices in different parts of Sindh, the PML-N leader blamed President Asif Ali Zardari for ordering attacks on offices and houses of party leaders in Sindh.
A number of people had gathered outside the KPC and shouted slogans against the president while avoiding criticism of Pakistan People’s Party leaders.
The protest in Karachi was organised by PML-N Sindh Youth Wing, whereas, the party also staged rallies in 42 different towns and cities of the province.
“[PML-N] leaders are being harassed. We will not sit idle. Our morale cannot be pulled down with such actions,” Zia said, adding that PML-N offices are being torched and leaders’ houses attacked on the orders of the president.
Warning those supporting the current regime, he said that they will also be held accountable when the Zardari government is toppled and he will be dragged [through the streets].
Speaking on the occasion, PML-N’s former provincial minister Ismial Raho said that freedom of expression was the spirit of democracy, but criticism is being replied by torching party offices and attacking the houses of PML-N leaders.
“Even in the regimes of General Ziaul Haq and General Pervez Musharraf when political activities were banned, the party offices were not torched, the leaders’ houses were not attacked and then the rulers are claiming to be democratic.”
Raho said that Zardari cannot face Nawaz Sharif and is upset due to the latter’s politics.
PML-N Sindh leader Zain Ansari said the president wants to eliminate the country but his party will save Pakistan. “Nobody can abolish PML-N from Sindh. Soon Zardari will be toppled and no country will be ready to give him asylum. He will soon be behind bars again.” Among other PML-N leaders, Nishal Hashmi also spoke on the occasion.
