ISLAMABAD, March 9: Prime Minister’s Adviser on Interior Rehman Malik has accused Pakistan Muslim League-N leader Nawaz Sharif of committing sedition by giving a call for revolt against the government.

Mr Malik threatened Nawaz Sharif and former Punjab chief minister Shahbaz Sharif that an FIR would be lodged against them in case of any loss of life and property during the coming long march.

“If any death takes place an FIR will be registered against those who have provoked people to revolt against the government,” the adviser said at a press conference.

In reply to a question, Mr Malik said Nawaz Sharif had used abusive language against President Asif Ali Zardari. “We can reply to Mr Sharif in a worse manner, but we have refrained from name calling.”

He cited some quotes from Mr Sharif’s Saturday speech declaring that he was on a warpath to substantiate the claim that the former premier had been guilty of sedition: “I order the people not to obey the government, wage Jihad against it and I have raised Alam-i-Baghawat (call to rebellion) and urge you (people) to join me in the long march.”

He termed these statements an incitement to revolt and said under Section 124-A of the Pakistan Penal Code, a case could be registered against the Sharif brothers if the law and order situation went out of control during the long march and sit-in.

Mr Malik read out Article 124-A, saying Nawaz Sharif was liable to be prosecution under this law. “Whoever by words, either spoken or written, or by signs, or by visible representation, or otherwise, brings or attempts to bring into hatred or contempt, or excites or attempts to excite disaffection towards, the federal or provincial government established by law shall be punished with imprisonment for life to which fine may be added, or with imprisonment which may extend to three years, to which fine may be added, or with fine.

(Explanation 1): The expression ‘disaffection’ includes disloyalty and all feelings of enmity. (Explanation 2): Comments expressing disapprobation of the measures of the government with a view to obtaining their alteration by lawful means, without exciting or attempting to excite hatred, contempt or disaffection, do not constitute an offence under this section. (Explanation 3): Comments expressing disapprobation of the administrative or other action of the government without exciting or attempting to excite hatred, contempt or disaffection, do not constitute an offence under this section.”

He claimed that the Sharif brothers wanted mid-term elections in the country and therefore were inciting the people to revolt against the government.

“The Sharif brothers are not ready to recognise the Constitution, the president and judges. Rather they want mid-term elections,” he said.

“We made a proposal to remove all PCO judges according to the spirit of the Charter of Democracy, but Nawaz Sharif insisted on removing only those judges who had taken oath under the PCO after signing of the charter,” he said.

Answering a question about the reconciliation efforts, the adviser said JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman and ANP president Asfandyar Khan Wali met Nawaz Sharif on the request of PPP leadership, but the PML-N leaders did not bother to reconcile.

In reply to another question, Mr Malik said the brothers had tendered a written apology to Gen (retd) Pervez Musharraf for their release and exile to Saudi Arabia but always “deceived the nation by denying it. “There is a documentary proof of their apology,” he claimed.

The adviser expressed fears that terrorists could strike during the long march. “We have credible reports that terrorists who had targeted the Sir Lankan cricket team in Lahore can strike again.”

He said: “We have proposed two venues — sector H-11 and the under construction parade ground near Faizabad -- for the long march and sit-in. If the lawyers assure the government that they will remain peaceful they will be allowed to enter Islamabad to hold public meeting at the proposed sites, but not in front of the Parliament House.”

In reply to another question, Rehman Malik said there was concrete evidence about the assassination of Benazir Bhutto. “We know the people behind it and the information will be shared with the UN team when it arrives,” he said.
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