Shah warns PML-N against revenge politics

Dawn News Published May 30, 2014

KARACHI: Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Syed Khurshid Shah on Friday said that the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) was being targeted and the politics of revenge was at play, DawnNews reported.

He added that if the government continued on this path, the opposition would have to seriously reconsider its stance in supporting the democratic set-up existing in its current form.

The senior PPP leader, who was speaking to media personnel in Sukkur, was visibly upset over the issuance of non-bailable warrants against party leaders Makhdoom Amin Faheem and Yousaf Raza Gilani.

The PPP leader’s comments came a day after an anti-corruption court issued arrest warrants for former prime minister Gilani and former commerce minister Faheem in a multi-billion trade subsidy scam.

Shah said his party was trying to save the democratic process but it appeared that the Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz (PML-N) was adamant on engaging in the politics of revenge.

Commenting on the recent split of the Khan Said Sajna group from the central set-up of the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Shah said the government should capitalise on the opportunity and improve the country's law and order situation.

The opposition leader, elected to the National Assembly from NA-199 (Sukkur-II), moreover said that Sindh forked out one and half times as much in electricity bill payments than Punjab did and therefore it should not be subjected to power outages.

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Muhammed Ali

May 30, 2014 04:35pm

Is there any other kind of politics in Pakistan??

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Khalid

May 30, 2014 04:37pm

PMLN has a record of doing exactly that so it should not come as a surprise to PPP. Nawaz Sharif has started behaving like an emperor and we all know where it is all heading.

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amjad

May 30, 2014 04:55pm

now PMLN is doing something meaningful...good move by government....

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Umair

May 30, 2014 05:00pm

Since when trying someone for corruption charges is a threat to democracy!!!

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Ali

May 30, 2014 05:00pm

Ridiculous... completely ridiculous. Whenever court proceedings are started (rightly or wrongly) against a Politician, other politicians always see this as "jamhoriat ky khalaf saazish ho rahi hay".

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AJamal

May 30, 2014 05:09pm

Don't worry Shahjee, our judiciary will ensure no harm.

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nazeef

May 30, 2014 05:24pm

Dear shah they arrest warrnts are issued by courts and not NS

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Tellmeplease

May 30, 2014 05:34pm

Next elections should be held under the watchful eyes of media including electronic and social media. There should be TV cameras, mobile phone cameras, and web cameras at every polling station. There should be live coverage of all the rooms of all the polling stations on social media and electronic media.

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Daanish

May 30, 2014 05:47pm

Gilani and Faheem are the poster boys of influential politics in Pakistan. I hope NAB can really nab those culprits and make an example by punishing them so no one can rob my homeland.

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Fareed (usa)

May 30, 2014 06:02pm

"Shah said his party was trying to save the democratic process but it appeared that the Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz (PML-N) was adamant on engaging in the politics of revenge" As long as courts do not uncover the looted wealth under the rug ,democracy is safe & sound. PPP honchos under the unassailable leadership of AAZardari need not worry. This facade is temporary, cases would be dropped.

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xulfjan

May 30, 2014 06:05pm

Black Mail from one thief to another!!

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Concerned

May 30, 2014 06:20pm

@Khalid Both were issued orders to appear before the court and they did not bother. What other recourse do you think the court had?

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Ammar Khalid

May 30, 2014 06:58pm

Why blame government when we have a kind of independent judiciary (at least more independent than anytime in the past) and this warrant has been issued by a court in Karachi. It didn't come from PM's office? It is kind of lame excuse from PPPP to stir up people's emotions by these tactics. Everyone knows, corruption was rife in the time of last government and the statistics of Transparency international also indicated so.

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Wachucha

May 30, 2014 07:01pm

Why is he warning PMLn for getting a court order against Gilani? Is judiciary not independent as claimed by both these parties? Instead of supporting each other to have 5 year alternate terms to plunder the country they should think of playing their constitutional roles of government and opposition.

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Shahid

May 30, 2014 07:01pm

Why worry? Has there ever been a single politician who got sentenced for corruption in this country. According to a moderate report, 500 billion USD have been stolen by these corrupts in last 67 years but not a single one has ever been caught or punished. Investigation agencies and the judiciary totally flawed.

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M. Saeed Awan

May 30, 2014 08:04pm

Why warrants cannot be issued to these personalities. Independent judiciary is there. Prove and get released them.

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BULLS EYE

May 30, 2014 08:17pm

Can Khursheed Shah tell us what Politics has to do if PPP's leaders were implicated in embezzlement of Public money, if they are caught how would the so-called Democratic system comes under threat.

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Muhammad Soofian

May 30, 2014 08:32pm

Just when NAB looks like doing something right or there is any justice to come through. These politicians cry foul play. Well, if our justice system is like this and does not punish the corrupt to hamara mulk hamesha us naazuk mor se guzre ga jo pichley 65 years se guzarta araha hai

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Syed Ahmed

May 30, 2014 08:43pm

Justice is unlikely in the current political setup, however the stupid PPPP politicians are trying to preventing the court taking its due course. Instead asking to open up cases against Sharif Brothers they are trying otherwise. Have some shame.

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Aftab Ahmed Shah

May 30, 2014 09:34pm

PPP had always proclaimed that they respect courts & shall accept their verdict. Now they are upset with court's action. What a contrast politicians have no shame at all. A scam has taken place which warrants an investigation & court is the best forum to discharge this duty. Politics must not be played in this matter and court must be given free hand to chart out their course of action. General public want to see justice done with tax payers money which has been reportedly swindled.

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Parvez

May 30, 2014 11:27pm

The late ZAB is reputed to have said........reality is not constant, it shifts with time.......indeed a very wise statement.

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ali

May 31, 2014 12:56am

FIA should also register case against this minister, who hired about 300 people illegally in EOBI, which was cancelled out by apex court, when he was minister of overseas ministry.

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Syed (Australia)

May 31, 2014 03:58am

Syed Khurshid Shah thanks for exposing yourself so quickly. Now when it comes to your party leaders you are threatening the government to derail the so called democratic set up which you were supporting till yesterday. You two big parties have nothing for the poor people only thing common to both of you is how you drain the blood of the poor people of Pakistan. No doubt you have a muk mako. Now you have threatened Nawaz government I am very confident these warrants of arrest will be revoked and taken back. Be fearful of God and do something good before it

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K.A.Muhammad

May 31, 2014 06:13am

Shah Saheb, now since Asif Ali Zardari is no more enjoying immunity, how about bringing up the matter in National Assembly? Secondly, why not pass a Law declaring that every action by Judiciary and or Administration of its time against any Political, Religious and Ethnic Party shall be considered high treason (Threat to Democracy and or indulging in Politics of Revenge) punishable by its instant removal! Lastly, Shah Saheb, would you kindly recount contribution if any to the country and its people of all other Shahs like you; such as Ghaus Ali Shah, Abdullah Shah, Muzzafar Hussain Shah Qayum Ali Shah!

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May 31, 2014 10:35am

First Ex PM Gilani and Ex Commerce Minister Fahim were ordered by the court and they did not appear. Afterward, the court issued bailable arrest warrants against them and they still did not appear. Also the government law enforcement agencies (police, FIA & NAB) made no efforts to arrest them. Now as the last resort, the court has issued non- bailable arrest orders. It remains to be seen if the law enforcement under PML-N government will implement those court orders otherwise it will be contempt of the court by the Government. The Government should reject the Khurshid Shah black mail by arresting them as per court orders. If both can prove their innocence in the court then they should not worry and if they have committed wrong with public money and misused their authority, then punishment is in order as well as the recovery of public funds so that justice can be served. Service of justice will strengthen the democratic system

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