LAHORE, Oct 8: The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) says the entry of Gen Pervez Musharraf (retired) into politics has “unnerved” the Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N).

“The PML-N’s criticism on reinstating government employees and appointment of the NAB chairman shows that it is under pressure after Musharraf’s entry into politics and has started opposition for the sake of opposition to give an impression that it is playing a role of real opposition,” Punjab PPP acting president Samiullah Khan told Dawn.

He said the people were wondering as to why the PML-N was opposing the poor-friendly moves of the PPP-led government. Similarly, the PML-N should not criticise the appointment of NAB chairman only because he had an association with a political party in the past.

“A government functionary is supposed to be criticised for his or her performance and not on the basis of his or her political affiliation. If we agree to the PML-N stance in this regard, Lahore High Court Chief Justice Khwaja Mohammad Sharif had also been elected councillor from PML-N platform. Then he (Justice Sharif) and many others in the judiciary and other departments should have not been appointed on the criteria the PML-N is talking about,” Sami said.

He said it was the PML-N stance that reinstatement of government employees was a burden on the national exchequer, then spending millions of rupees on the security of Nawaz Sharif and other PML-N leaders, who were not holding any government office, was also a burden on the kitty. He said we should not discriminate that this person had a past affiliation with this or that party, thus not entitled to hold government office or be reinstated.

PML-N Senator Pervaiz Rashid said why his party would take any pressure of Musharraf’s entry into politics. “We even did not take his pressure when he was in power.”

He said the PML-N was opposing reinstatement of employees as the move was a burden on the national exchequer. “Why the government does not provide job opportunities to the youth. These employees would have been doing some work for the last 12 or so years after getting fired,” he said. Rashid said the PML-N opposed every “wrong” move of the government whether it was enactment of the NRO or the debate on the acceptance of the Kerry-Lugar Bill. — Staff Reporter