HYDERABAD: Adviser to the Chief Minister on Information Maula Bux Chandio has said that the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari might talk to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif only if the former felt that democracy in the country was under threat. “Otherwise, his doors [to the PM] are closed”.

Mr Chandio was answering questions posed by journalists at a heatstroke relief centre set up by the party outside the Radio Pakistan building here on Tuesday.

The adviser said that Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman had currently associated himself with the prime minister in name of reconciliation. “He [the Maulana] has his own miracles,” he remarked.

Criticising the the PML-N for its handling of certain affairs, Mr Chandio said the steps being taken by the ruling party are endangering democracy in the country.

“The PPP always supported Mr Sharif for the sake of democracy but the PML-N never listened to it and, instead, avoided facing parliament,” he said and made it clear that the PPP could not tolerate any harm to democracy.

Mr Chandio observed that federal ministers were always seen provoking opposition parties and one couldn’t hope for good under these circumstances.

He said he was delighted to note that the PML-N now wanted the PPP to play a role in the prevailing situation “Mr Zardari’s opponents had even hit below the belt when he was the head of state but he never reacted,” he said.

He said the PML-N government didn’t do any good to the PPP and even if it was forgiven it could not be appreciated because it did not promote democracy.

In reply to a question, Mr Chandio said he couldn’t say anything about Mr Zardari’s agreeing to a meeting with Mr Sharif “because the situation has changed now”.

The PPP leader was also asked for his comment on the recent call by the anti-PPP Grand Democratic Alliance for a military takeover.

He said some people kept inviting army to take over the country “but the PPP will be last party to make such a demand”.

“The army is a national institution that assists government whenever the latter needs such assistance as per the constitutional requirement.”

“An army chief is always remembered if he leaves pleasant memories of his tenure.”

He observed that there were people in the GDA who lost even their home constituencies in elections. The PPP’s standing in Sindh was known to everyone and it would restore its standing in Punjab soon, he said.

Mr Chandio said that GDA leaders could not win elections so they did not like democracy and favour dictatorship. However, he added, conditions in the country were different now and no conspiracy against democracy would succeed. As such, these people [GDA leaders] would find no role for them so long as democracy was there.

Published in Dawn, May 25th, 2016