KARACHI, Nov 10: Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira has accused the PML-N of supporting the Taliban.

Speaking at a press conference here on Saturday, he said that Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden was once alleged to have financed the Sharif-led Islami Jamhoori Ittehad’s attempt to topple the PPP government through a no-confidence motion in 1989.

He wondered why Nawaz Sharif didn’t deny the accusations.

Mr Kaira made it clear that elections would be held as per the schedule. “Hence there is no need for speculations on the matter.”

He said the PML-N leaders were feeling lost because they would not get any support from agencies or other forces, for the next general elections.

Answering a question, the minister said that except one man all those behind the assassination of Benazir Bhutto had been arrested. One of them was killed in a drone attack.

He said that people should not raise doubts over investigations in the case as both Asif Ali Zardari and Bilawal Bhutto Zardari were satisfied with the inquiry.

The PPP, he said, had always faced poll rigging and faced movements such as Tehrik Tahaffuz-i-Pakistan or Pakistan Bachao Tehrik whenever time came for it to assume power.

Mr Kaira said it was Nawaz Sharif who first raised the slogan of “Jaag Punjab Jaag” (O Punjabis, wake up) after the PPP’s victory in the 1988 elections.

The government of 1990 had lost its constitutional and legal status after the verdict of Supreme Court in Asghar Khan case, more so after it had been proved that fake polling stations were established and bogus voting carried out in elections, he said.

There still were more revelations to come to fore, the minister said.

Mr Kaira lauded Malala Yousufzai for her courage and bringing good name to the country through her struggle for girls’ education.

He claimed that not a single political prisoner was languishing in any of the jails in the PPP tenure.—PPI