KARACHI, Jan 31: The secretary general of Pakistan People’s Party, Sindh, Nafees Siddiqui said on Tuesday that only democratic dispensation could provide the road map for fighting against terrorism and ensure socio-economic growth, evolution of a vibrant and liberal enlightened civil society in Pakistan.
He was addressing a news conference at Karachi Press Club during which he lashed out at the regime for injecting extremism and encouraging centrifugal forces in the country.
Nafees Siddiqui said that the serious crisis through which Pakistan was currently passing owing to military-led regime’s anti-people policies could only be resolved through political means and not through the barrel of the gun — whether in Balochistan, Waziristan, Sindh and other parts of the country.
Referring to statements of Punjab chief minister and federal minister Sher Afgan Niazi in which they had said that Punjab would be standing alongside General Musharraf in the next elections and that Punjab wouldn’t accept prime minister from any of the three provinces if they did not support Punjab, Mr Siddiqui said it was a dangerous trend and asked whether these provinces were not part of Pakistan.
Mr Siddiqui also questioned the regime’s claim of enlightened moderation and alleged that it was giving wrong impression that they were enlightened and moderate. The reality was that they were crushing liberal forces in the country and party’s like PPP, PML(N), ANP and others were being marginalised.
He said that the issue of red warrant was also part of this policy against liberal forces. He said that the government premise was wrong. He alleged that Musharraf regime was neither liberal nor enlightened, it was in league with the “fundos” and trying to impress upon the West and the US that the choice was between his military rule or Taliban type governance, to prolong his rule.
With reference to the government circles claim that PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto and her spouse Asif Ali Zardari were fugitives, Mr Siddiqui said the facts were to the contrary. He said that all these cases were instituted under cover of accountability references before ‘hostile’ judges under tailored law of 1997 Ehtesab Act replaced by NAB Ordinance 1999.
In none of the cases, she or her spouse had been convicted. It was only in one case Ms Bhutto, who had proceeded abroad with the court’s permission, was penalised for not being present. He said that it was being done when allegedly many of those who wanted by the NAB were sitting in the government.
He alleged that purpose of these cases was to prosecute, pressurize, blackmail, harass and damage opposition and for the purpose of change of loyalty.
He demanded immediate withdrawal of the red notices and cases and said if at all accountability had to be done, it should be transparent and should be done through civil courts.
Nafees Siddiqui was of the view that the regime was pushing the society towards a horrible dead end through such process and marginalization of main and liberal political forces.
He said that Ms Bhutto had announced that whenever she was called by any court, she would definitely come. He asked as to how General Musharraf can say that he would not allow her and Mian Nawaz Sharif to return. He was of the view that both of them would come much sooner than expected, before the next elections.
He alleged that the regime was raising non-issues for diverting attention from its wrong doings. He also slammed the regime’s policies with regard to Kalabagh Dam, Balochistan, NFC Award issues. He also castigated the government on the new NFC formula under which Sindh’s due share had been denied. He also questioned Gen Musharraf’s right to announce it.
Mr Siddiqui claimed that after Ms Bhutto announced the possibility of her contesting the Senate elections the government had become impatient. He said the final decision in this regard would be taken after the announcement of election schedule for Senate.
