ISLAMABAD, Nov 12: The People‘s Party Parliamentarians has expressed concern over the reports that President Pervez Musharraf has decided to write off millions of rupees recoverable from the former Senate chairman, Wasim Sajjad, on the orders of the Public Accounts Committee.
A PPP spokesman, Farhatullah Babar, in a statement has said that the party was gravely concerned and condemns the reported President Musharraf’s decision to write off million of rupees owed by Wasim Sajjad to the state exchequer.
“This is being done to enable Sajjad to contest the Senate elections, yet another manifestation of double standards employed by the regime in dealing with members of different political parties. It is the worst form of post-election manipulation and gerrymandering to support and bail out members of the ‘king‘s party’.
“It is also an example of how the so called accountability law is being applied most selectively.
“The PAC has charged Sajjad with the misuse of official telephones, two cars, and the purchase of crockery. Exactly identical charges were levelled against the former National Assembly speaker, Yousuf Raza Gillani, who has since been convicted by an accountability court and is languishing in jail.
“That a speaker of the National Assembly belonging to the PPP should remain behind bars for seven years, and the chairman Senate be helped to contest the Senate elections is a standing monument of the double standards.
“The PPP speaker in jail emerges as a towering figure hounded by the pygmies in the regime who have bent and broken every law to shield, protect and assist its loyalists. Those who uphold rule of law salute Yousuf Raza Gillani who has through his conduct exposed the character of both; the pygmies manipulating the law and the pygmies benefiting from this manipulation.
“The PPP condemns and deplores the application of double standards by the regime and demands that the law be applied uniformly to both chairman Senate and speaker National Assembly.
“The former chairman Senate himself should pause and think and clear his name with respect to the reports of special favour of write off he is seeking from the regime. Sneaking one‘s way into the Senate and even occupying its chairmanship through blatant manipulation is one thing, but commanding genuine respect independent of the office is quite another.
“The PPP urges human rights bodies, members of the legal fraternity, bar associations, and the public to raise their voice against this blatant manipulation of law to victimize political opponents and reward supporters.