Awami Muslim League (AML) Chairman and former federal minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed on Sunday asked the Supreme Court (SC) to declare corrupt politicians ineligible for contesting elections so that the country could develop.
Holding a press conference at the AML’s office, Rashid said that all institutions had failed to deliver and the whole nation had its eyes on the SC for remedial measures. Everything was in quandary due to the prevailing mistrust on institutions, the former federal minister said, adding that the country was in the grip of ever-increasing problems but political forces were busy in the power game. Rashid said that the country was gradually moving towards bankruptcy but nobody was concerned, including rulers.
On granting India the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status, he said that thousands of Pakistanis were jailed in India and the federal government, instead of raising the issue with Indian authorities, was enhancing friendly relations with New Delhi. He claimed that the army was not taken into confidence on the issue. The AML chairman said that the government was busy in benefiting its favourite people from the national exchequer while all other politicians were waiting for their turn to enter into power corridors. Regarding the friendly opposition, Rashid said that opposition parties did not check the government’s wrong policies for the first three years but now under an undeclared agreement between the government and opposition, the opposition was creating a strict and vigilant position so that innocent voters could be befooled.
To a question, he said that a new grouping was emerging in all political parties and the present political scenario was overcast and a lot will become clear when the weather changes. Rashid predicted that politics will start after November 15 and Muslims will come out of a ‘spell’ after eating Eid meat and spending holidays.
On the successful show of Imran Khan in Lahore and ascending graph of his popularity, the AML chairman said that there was a dire need of a third political force, which was filled by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) and it was a good omen for democracy. Rashid said that every political party succeeded with help of the establishment and those people who were accusing Imran of seeking the establishment’s help were in fact giving a favour to the PTI.
On a question about his alliance with any political party, the AML chairman said that their offer of alliance was not seriously considered but now time had gone and the AML will now decide its election strategy. He said that the political train never waited for anyone and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Nawaz Sharif could have formed an alliance with all Muslim Leagues by taking an initiative but now it was not possible.
The former federal minister said that time until March was quite crucial and if President Asif Ali Zardari could succeed in holding on then politics after March would be entirely different. He said the Zardari created many problems for the country but not for himself. Commenting on the role of political parties, he said that all were running a joint venture. Rashid said that trains were the transport of poor people but railways had been destroyed.
The AML chairman said that tailor made tenders were being opened for purchase of locomotives only to benefit American GM Company locomotives and Chinese, Spanish, Italian, German and Korean manufacturers were barred to take part in the bidding. He said that the railways minister was not interested in the department and would resign after November 24.
