Opp begins to coalesce after Zardari’s bugle call

• Info minister denies ‘victimisation’ on PML-N’s part, says Zardari ‘misguided’ on Dr Asim’s case, assures law will take its course
• PTI’s Umar believes no one can put a halt to operation against terrorism and corruption as it has a ‘massive public support’
• MQM’s Akhtar says Zardari has been ‘partner in crime’ with PM Sharif and is ’crying foul’ for being taken to task

Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari’s warning to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif against the alleged policy of victimisation against his party leaders in Karachi Operation has attracted a mix reaction from the political parties of the country.

Addressing a press conference, Minister for Information & Broadcasting Senator Pervez Rashid said that Zardari has been “misinformed or misguided” over the arrest of Dr Asim Hussain and this misunderstanding would be removed overtime.

In a reconciliatory tone, Rashid said that PM Sharif did not believe in the politics of vengeance and there is no room for the politics of victmisation in Pakistan. “We have great respect for Asif Zardari and other senior politicians,” he said.

The minister claimed that as far as Dr Asim’s case is concerned, PM had sought a report on the matter even before the reaction by the PPP leadership. The minister thereby tried to give an impression that the prime minister did not know about the arrest earlier.

“The report will be with the PM soon. If some people are being interrogated while they are not involved, they will soon return to their homes. The law would take its course. Judiciary is strong enough and will decide all such cases,” the minister said, giving a clear message to the PPP leadership that the government might not be able to give concessions to the PPP leaders and the issues will be decided in courts.

“As far as the politics of confrontation of 90s is concerned, this was buried by Nawaz Sharif and Benazir Bhutto jointly,” he said, adding that “there is no word of victimisation in the dictionary of Nawaz Sharif”.

When asked if the government had raised questions about the Karachi Operation, the minister said, “We all are with the armed forces that are busy in Operation Zarb-e-Azb. So is the case with Karachi Operation which was supported by all political forces,” he added.

Asked if there was any possibility of a meeting between Zardari and PM Sharif for an immediate reconciliation, Rashid said that a meeting could not take place while Zardari was abroad.

Asked about government’s talks with Mutahidda Qaumi Movement (MQM) for formation of grievances committee, the minister said there was no deadlock. “The process is on with MQM. The matter is under process and soon you would hear good news,” he added.

PTI LAUGHS IT OFF:

In the meanwhile, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Asad Umar said that neither the prime minister nor anyone else could stop this “popular” operation against terrorism and corruption which had massive public support. He laughed off the claims of the PPP leadership that its leaders were not involved in terrorism related cases, stating that even a former Sindh home minister had publicly claimed that he had supported the goons of the banned Peoples Aman Committee (PAC).

“Did the PPP’s former home minister did not tell during live TV shows that he had issued licenses of prohibited weapons to the banned Aman Committee members? The PPP has been involved in supporting terrorists and the corrupt. In my view, even the prime minister is not happy with the anti-graft operation. Same is the case with most of other political leaders who are not happy with the anti-graft and anti-terrorist operation,” he said.

“The country has been looted time and again while no one has ever been held accountable. If no government is ready to arrest the criminals, someone from somewhere would have to act. The Rangers, police or Army would fill the vacuum created by the politicians,” he added.

Moreover, PTI’s Dr Arif Alvi said that a necessary operation was conducted in Karachi wherein many criminals were apprehended and people are very happy with peace retuning to Karachi. “The PPP is unhappy with the operation and they want that the Sindh should keep burning but their leadership should not be touched,” he added.

MQM MOCKS AT BIG GUNS:

Prominent leader of Mutahidda Qaumi Movement (MQM) Wasim Akhtar said that the statement by PPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari has fully exposed to the people of Pakistan real faces of top leaders of two political parties of the country who have ruled this country time and again.

“It is strange to note that Zardari has confessed that he has been a partner in crime with the PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif. Since they are now being taken to task, he is crying foul. This has also exposed the hypocrisy of the PPP leader. Why did not he take action to implement the Supreme Court orders in Asghar Khan case when he was ruling the country as president of Pakistan?” the MQM leader argued.

Moreover, Akhtar said Zardari should also explain as to why he had been “protecting the crimes” of the PML-N leadership over the years.