KAMALIA: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari on Friday said former president General (r) Pervez Musharraf should return to the country and face the courts if he’s “so brave”.
Zardari was speaking to reporters a day after Musharraf accused the PPP leader of being complicit in Benazir Bhutto’s assassination.
“Asif Ali Zardari is responsible for the Bhutto family’s demise. He was involved in the deaths of Benazir and Murtaza Bhutto,” Musharraf had said.
On September 18, Zardari had challenged the August 31 verdict passed by a Rawalpindi anti-terrorism court in Bhutto’s murder case.
In his petition, filed before the Lahore High Court, Zardari had sought the death penalty for Musharraf and two senior police officers who were sentenced by the ATC to 17 years in prison in connection with Bhutto’s murder.
During Friday’s press conference, Zardari said that the problems of the country can only be solved through a complete understanding of economic growth, which, he said, the ruling government lacks.
He also criticised the PML-N for not appointing a foreign minister earlier. He said that Khawaja Asif ─ who was appointed as foreign minister in Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi’s cabinet in August ─ could not hold meaningful dialogue with other countries as they are aware that Asif may not retain his post after the General Election 2018.
“They have purposefully weakened Pakistan’s case,” Zardari said.
“The youth needs us, the youth needs jobs. They have no understanding. Nothing will come off building roads, how will we pay off our debts?” Zardari said.
When asked about Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan’s recently launched campaign against him, Zardari said: “I, too, am going to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.”
He also criticised the PTI for not implementing enough development projects in the province.