LAHORE, Aug 22: The PPP has taken exception to former ehtesab bureau chairman Saifur Rehman’s assertion that cases instituted against former prime minister Benazir Bhutto and her spouse Asif Zarari were based on facts and that the Swiss magistrate’s verdict against the couple was valid in the eyes of law.

Punjab PPP President Qasim Zia told Dawn here on Friday that he would lodge a protest with the PML-N leadership and demand that Saifur Rehman should be reined in. However, he made it clear that non-sense uttered by Saifur Rehman would “not” affect relations between the PPP and the PML-N, which are allies on the ARD platform and are carrying out struggle for a genuine parliamentary system.

Some PPP leaders had claimed at a news conference a few days back that the former ehtesab bureau chief was now willing to appear as Ms Bhutto’s defence witness.

Saifur Rehman has been quoted by a daily as saying that he would not defend the former prime minister as all cases registered against her were well-founded.

Qasim Zia alleged while talking to this correspondent that Saifur Rehman had made the statement to escape wrath of the present rulers. He said the former ehtesab bureau chief was facing so many cases and he could save himself only by dancing to the tunes of the rulers.

The PPP leader said he would not be astonished even if the man agreed to appear as approver against the Sharifs.

The PPP leader said not long ago had the former ehtesab bureau chief touched Mr Zardari’s feet and apologized for instituting bogus cases against him and her spouse.

The PPP leader said a campaign had been launched by the PML-Q top leadership to tarnish the image of Ms Bhutto and her husband and the out-of-proportion projection by the media of Swiss magistrate’s findings should be seen in that context.

Also, he said, Ms Bhutto had now been accused of having purchased a bungalow in the UAE. He said everyone, except the elements behind the malicious campaign, knew that in the UAE no foreigner was allowed to purchase properties.

Qasim said that his party was preparing a strategy to effectively counter the propaganda.

For this purpose, he said, the PPP would also take the matter to people’s court.