News
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Zardari hits back at Nawaz with scathing criticism
* President slams PML-N chief for ‘defaming generals, national institutions’
* Says Nawaz shares Taliban’s mindset
* His thoughts biggest threat to Pakistan
ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari, on Tuesday, asked the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz chief Nawaz Sharif to wait patiently for the next general elections and refrain from “maligning” institutions of the country.
President Zardari was addressing a large gathering of PPP workers and office-bearers in Naudero in connection with the 58th birthday ceremony of Benazir Bhutto. In his long-awaited public address since May 2 Abbottabad operation, President Zardari broke his silence and freely expressed his views on the current political scenario. However, besides explaining his vision and personal claims of being a statesman of deep foresight, he used the occasion to censure Nawaz Sharif for “defaming generals and institutions of the country for his personal gains.”
Zardari criticised Nawaz’s demand for generals’ accountability and asked him to learn to be patient and tolerant, two qualities which he said Nawaz lacked. Equating PML-N chief’s mindset with that of Taliban, Zardari said Nawaz had forgotten that it was Benazir Bhutto who had initiated the policy of reconciliation. “Maulvi Nawaz Sharif’s thought is the biggest threat to Pakistan’s security. His earnest regret is that this time army did not manoeuvre against the government of the day and refused to listen to his conspiracy theories.”
Although he spoke on the issues of rising prices, power load shedding and poverty, the main focus of Zardari’s speech was criticism of Nawaz and what he termed as his “ill-conceived policy of maligning armed forces.” Using the prefix of maulvi for PML-N leader again and again, Zardari said Nawaz lacked the stamina to stand up to hardships of the lock up and therefore he appealed to Musharraf to send him to Saudi Arabia, a reference to his exile during Musharraf’s rule. The president paid tributes to the soldiers and officers of the Pakistan Army and said they were laying down their lives for the country and no one should try to create differences between them and the people of Pakistan. agencies
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk