HYDERABAD: Pakistan Peoples Party-Parliamentarians (PPP-P) information secretary Maula Bux Chandio has slammed ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s latest statements on the Nov 2008 Mumbai attacks, and said that Mr Sharif breached the oath he had taken as prime minister.
Mr Chandio was speaking to reporters at a prize distribution ceremony organised by the Sindh Education Foundation (SCF) here on Monday.
“Such kind of discourse does not suit a former prime minister, who is under oath ... his recent harangue negates the very oath,” said the senior PPP-P leader, adding that Mr Sharif was raising these things in a fit of anger.
Mr Chandio referred to the Panama Papers leaks case and the investigation carried out into the matter by a joint investigation team (JIT) that also comprised the country’s security agencies.
PPP, PTI leaders call for sedition case against ousted premier
“Has he [the ousted PM] ever expressed his displeasure over federal government’s refusal to follow the Constitution and take care of provinces’ grievances?” asked Mr Chandio, and remarked that Mr Sharif was making state institutions controversial for personal reasons.
“He wants people to turn against the judiciary and army,” he said referring to Mr Sharif’s statement that has triggered a controversy.
“Under the existing circumstances, such a statement is against Pakistan’s interests. The statement on the Mumbai episode is a serious issue. By discussing his personal failings [with regard to those responsible for the attack] Mr Sharif is questioning integrity of Pakistan,” said Mr Chandio.
He claimed that in order to prove his point, Mr Sharif wanted everyone to criticise Pakistan.
“By adopting such an attitude, he is making an attempt to undermine Pakistan’s national security,” he said.
The PPP-P leader said Nawaz Sharif could not become Z.A. Bhutto though he often tries to equate himself with Mr Bhutto.
At the ceremony, awards were presented to teachers and students from different districts for their outstanding performances.
Senator Sassui Palijo, Sufi University (Bhitshah) Vice Chancellor Dr Parveen Munshi, SEF managing director Naheed Shah Durrani and a large number of teachers, students and other people attended the ceremony.
Separately, Sindh PPP president and Senior Minister for Food and Parliamentary Affairs Nisar Ahmed Khuhro condemned Mr Sharif’s statement, saying it was against Pakistan’s integrity and tantamount to treachery.
He felt that Mr Sharif had given this statement after giving serious thought to it.
Mr Khuhro was responding to questions posed to him by media personnel at a ceremony held at the food department warehouse in Kotri for the distribution of wheat among deserving families ahead of Ramazan on Monday.
He called for institution of sedition case against Nawaz Sharif over his statements.
In reply to a question, he said general election in the country would be held on time, adding that no political party was in favour of getting polls postponed.
Sedition case
Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf leader Advocate Bhagwan Das Bheel on Monday submitted an application at the Cantonment police station seeking registration of a sedition case against ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif in the wake of his interview published in Dawn’s May 12 issue.
Sindh PTI’s minority wing vice president Advocate Bheel stated in his application that by giving such statements in the interview Mr Sharif committed sedition and harmed the state’s integrity.
As such he was liable for prosecution under Sections 120-A and 124-A of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC), the applicant said.
He stated that Mr Sharif had made mala fide statement against the state, therefore, an FIR be registered against him under relevant provisions of law.
The Cantonment police received his application and told him that certain legal formalities had to be undertaken with the permission of the competent authority [before registering such an FIR].
They told him that he would be informed about any action on his application by Tuesday (today).
Published in Dawn, May 15th, 2018
