Nawaz Sharif is furthering the cause of extremists and this is dangerous for the country: Fauzia Wahab.—APP photo
LAHORE: Setting aside Pakistan People’s Party’s reconciliation policy President Asif Ali Zardari has reportedly given a go-ahead to his party hawks to give a ‘befitting response’ to the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leadership.
Before PPP co-chairman’s rare onslaught on PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday, there had been a clear direction from him to his party stalwarts, especially in Punjab, to observe ‘caution’ in targeting the Sharif brothers because he wanted to take all political forces along.
“Nawaz Sharif’s blatant criticism of President Zardari during PML-N’s election campaign in Kashmir has hurt him,” a senior PPP leader told Dawn. He said the president had minded Sharif’s personal attacks on him.
“After reading the mind of Sharif the PPP co-chairman has finally decided to take him on and this policy will continue till the next general election,” he said.
Fauzia Wahab, a presidential aide, told Dawn that the two parties had drawn a clear line after president’s speech.
“The PPP is leading the liberal forces and the PML-N extremist ones. The two parties with opposite ideologies cannot get along any more,” she said.
“We have made it clear to the Sharifs that since they are not ready to part ways with fundamentalists the PPP will not shake hands with them,” she said, adding that Sharif represented an ‘extremist mindset’ in the society.
“Sharif is furthering the cause of extremists and this is dangerous for the country. The country has lost thousands of its sons to the war on terror and Sharif is targeting his own army and intelligence agencies instead of condemning terror acts,” she said.
She asked Sharif to come out of ‘Zardari phobia’ and think for the betterment of Pakistan. Ms Wahab said president’s speech in Naudero was in his capacity as PPP co-chairman.
She said PML-N’s wish of midterm elections would not be fulfilled, as the government was set to complete its five-year term.
Sources said former law minister Babar Awan, Governor Sardar Latif Khosa, Opposition Leader in Punjab Assembly Raja Riaz and PPP Punjab president Imtiaz Safdar Warraich would be on the forefront in Punjab to castigate the Sharif brothers in the coming days.
“President Zardari had admonished us for giving tough time to the PML-N in Punjab Assembly over the turncoats issue. Now the PML-N will face the music both inside and outside the assembly,” a PPP legislator said.
On the other hand, PML-N circles believe that President Zardari targeted Sharif on the wish of those in uniform who were not happy with the latter for his open criticism of intelligence agencies.
They were of the view the “war of words” between the two parties would continue till the next elections
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