PML-N hits back at PPP
27 February, 2013
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) on Tuesday hit back at Pakistan People's Party (PPP), accusing it of having 'relations' with banned outfits in the past. PML-N Deputy Secretary General Ahsan Iqbal told reporters at a press conference that PPP forged an alliance with Sipah-e-Sihaba in 1996 in Punjab. He said when PML-N launched an operation against the organisation, Nawaz Sharif was attacked. Iqbal said Azam Tariq of Sipah-e-Sihaba was released from jail in 2002 to vote for PML-Q's candidate for prime minister, Mir Zafarullah Jamali. Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah and Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad of MQM held separate meetings with chief of Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamat (ASWJ) Muhammad Ahmed Ludhiwanvi in 2010, he added. He said Sindh and Balochistan governments issued arms licenses to Malik Ishaq. "Why the rulers are blaming the Punjab government? It's beyond comprehension," he added. Iqbal said ruling alliance was accusing the PML-N of having relations with banned outfits merely to hide their own history. On rumours regarding postponement of general election, Iqbal said conspiracies have died down and the army has also given a public statement for holding of elections on time. He said PPP, MQM and PTI have joined hands only to create a hung parliament and divide vote bank of the PML-N. He said instead of addressing issues of Saraiki region, the PPP had been using the issue merely to save its politics and to secure votes from South Punjab. Replying to a question, Iqbal said his party supports overseas Pakistani's right to vote but the government did not take any practical step in this regard during the last five years. It would perhaps not be possible for the Election Commission of Pakistan to verify their votes in a short span of time, he added. Ahsan justified his party's electoral alliance with the JUI-F and said that JUI-F had spent last two years in the opposition. He said no alliance with MQM was likely because of trust deficit caused by latter's conduct in the past. End.
|
