May 8, 2002	Wednesday	Safar 24, 1423

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ISLAMABAD, May 7: Former interior minister Naseerullah Babar has said that keeping in view the track record of its members, the National Alliance and its patrons are the proverbial Ali Baba and 40 thieves.

He, in a statement here on Tuesday, alleged that the so-called alliance had gathered under the umbrella of military government to escape accountability for their misdeeds, and to keep Ms Benazir Bhutto out of politics in collusion with the military junta.

“Those who have gathered under the umbrella of National Alliance include Sardar Farooq Leghari of the Mehran Bank scandal fame who has yet to clear his name in several corruption cases — construction of a shooting range in the Presidency, the fictitious sale of Razi Farms, theft of Rs80 million in the purchase of helicopters which were never delivered and bungling of another Rs120 million in the purchase of equipment for the Intelligence Bureau”, he said.

“ Mr Ghulam Mustafa Jatoi‘s name is in the list of those to whom ISI doled out funds to form the IJI. That case is still in the Supreme Court and Mr Jatoi has to do a lot of explaination. It is the same Mr Jatoi who allotted 10 plots in Clifton to his relatives when he was appointed as the caretaker prime minister”, Mr Babar added.

“ I should also like to caution Gen Rashed Qureshi of the ISPR to think before opening his mouth against Ms Bhutto. How he got promotion to the rank of Maj-Gen is well known in the army circles, but I would not like to go into the details at this stage. When the time comes the reason of his promotion will also be investigated” , he warned.

“ Gen Musharraf also needs to explain how he got the properties/ plots worth Rs10 millions declared by him in different parts of the country, let alone the undeclared ones. The present junta and the National Alliance make a perfect case of Ali Baba and 40 thieves”, Mr Babar said.