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LAHORE: Federal Law Minister Babar Awan says the PPP is not being given its agreed share in the Punjab government but it will continue to be part of the coalition setup.
“We have grievances but we will not quit the Punjab government for the sake of democracy,” he said. He was talking to the media after attending Punjab PPP parliamentary meeting here on Monday.
To a question, he said the government had the right to change its counsel under the Constitution. He said the government’s legal team would examine the court verdict and move ahead according to the Constitution.
The law minister condemned Shahbaz Sharif’s comments about President Zardari and said his party would not tolerate targeted media trial.
He said appointment of the NAB chairman had been done on merit and it would not be reviewed.
Babar Awan criticised the Punjab government for handing over an executive office to a person who was accused of torturing Asif Zardari.
He said the provincial government and several judges were functioning on stay order and it was only the office of the president which could not be challenged at any forum.
He said the government would not accept any PCO or ECO (extra-judicial order) and will not allow clash of institutions.
Punjab Senior Minister Raja Riaz said those talking of long march were in fact conspiring against democracy. He regretted the statement of Shahbaz Sharif and said the “attack on President Zardari is an attack on parliament and democracy”.
Meanwhile, PPP central deputy information secretary Haider Zaman Qureishi condemned statements of Chaudhry Nisar Ali and Shahbaz Sharif against President Zardari.
He said Mr. Nisar had misguided the media on the appointment of the NAB chief. “Under the existing NAB law the appointment of the NAB chairman is the prerogative of the president while Nisar is talking about the consultation of the opposition which will be binding when the new accountability commission will be formed,” Mr. Qureishi said.
He said Justice Deedar Shah (retired) had an unblemished career and linking his past political affiliation would eventually open a Pandora’s box.
