- States any new NRO would benefit Sharifs only
LAHORE: Opposition Leader in the National Assembly, Khursheed Shah, on Friday regretted the army spokesperson’s reaction to the recent statement made by Railways Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique.
Khursheed Shah stated that he did not find anything objectionable in the statement which was criticised by the army spokesperson on Thursday.
Addressing the media in Lahore, the senior Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader said that he has examined Rafique’s remarks, delivered on December 24, and did not find anything controversial in them.
“There was nothing [in Rafique’s statement] to warrant an immediate and such a big reaction from Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR). This shouldn’t have been done. The institution’s each and every word is important,” said Shah.
While responding to a question on Sharifs’ visit of Saudi Arabia, Shah expressed concerns and stressed on the importance of making independent policies.
“We have our own Constitution and are nuclear power”, pronounced Shah.
“National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) back in 2007 had brought democracy whereas current NRO deals with the personal interests of Sharifs”, Shah stated in response to the current outcry on Pakistan’s political front with regards to an NRO deal in the making keeping in view the Sharif’s visit to Saudi Arabia.
Continuing with his press conference, Khursheed Shah said the PPP wants democracy to continue in the country and for the general polls to be held on time.
With regards to the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) reforms, Shah said the party has been supporting the reforms and merger of the tribal areas with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa since day one.
Responding to a question about the PPP leaders’ meeting with Pakistan Awami Tehreek chief Tahirul Qadri, Shah said there is nothing new in the meetings as they have occurred before. “We don’t want distances with any political party,” he asserted.
Commenting on the infamous Faizabad sit-in, he stated that the recent dharna sent a bad message to the world as Pakistan was cast as a dangerous country.
With regards to the ongoing traders’ protest in the Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) region, the PPP leader said it is highly unjust that GB’s residents are being taxed without constitutional cover.
He made a demand that the elections of GB and Azad Jammu and Kashmir should be held alongside the general elections of Pakistan.