Pakistan Views

Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain has proposed the name of PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari from his party for the candidate of next President of the state, appealing the political parties to support his candidature.

According to a statement issued by the party secretariat in London, he praised Zardari saying that he resolved the matter of President’s impeachment amicably.

Altaf also praised ousted president Musharraf over his decision to resign from office and said that he saved the country by his act.

Altaf said in his statement that he came to a decision after consulting his party members that Zardari is appropriate for the slot of President.

He appealed Zardari, PPP and leaders of other political parties to consider his proposal.

Chief of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman in a meeting with Co-chairman of Pakistan Peoples Party has said that the demand for accountability could strengthen after the charges against President Musharraf would came into public.

In the late night meeting here the two leaders discussed the matter of impeachment of the president in detail. The draft of the impeachment charge sheet was also given to Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman.

The JUI leader in the meeting observed that it would be better for the president if he quits office before initiation of the impeachment proceedings, otherwise the public demand for his accountability will be strengthened.

The safe exit for the president will become difficult if the charges against him came into the public, Fazl-ur-Rehman said.

The two leaders of the ruling coalition agreed to table the impeachment motion in the national assembly if the President failed to quit the office.

Pakistan Peoples Party co-chairman, Asif Ali Zardari has said that Pakistan army and the Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) are not involved in politics.

In an interview to private Television channel, Asif Ali Zardari said that he watned Amin Faheem to support PPP in ongoing process of impeachment.

He also said that british news paper out of context quoted his statement over the American aid, it would be premature to say that President Musharraf might have misappropriated the US aid given to Pakistan in war against terror. PPP co-chairman added.

Asif Ali Zardari admitted that he was in the wrong by not taking Muttahida Qaumi Movement Chief, Altaf Hussain into confidence over the issue of President’s impeachment.

As regards Dr. Aafia Siddiqui’s case, Zardari said that her trial is an acid test of the US Judicial system. He said that new President would abolish 58-2(b).

The United States wanted to take Musharraf out of the crisis through Benazir Bhutto after the widespread demonstrations in backdrop sacking of Chief Justice.

“The Way of the World” authored by a Pulitzer Prize winning US journalist Ron Suskind revealed.

According to the author, Bhutto’s representative started approaching the State Department, in spring 2006 to work out a plan for her return, but White House began taking her seriously after the widespread demonstrations in 2007 in the backdrop of sacking of the Chief Justice of Pakistan. And this plan was aimed to shore up an embattled Musharraf, a single-issue ally.

The book is full of disclosures, with its fair portion about Musharraf-Benazir conversation including Musharraf’s quote “You should understand something, your security is based on the state of our relationship”.

In Abu Dhabi meeting between Benazir Bhutto and President Musharraf it was decided that Musharraf would quit the military office and would function as a civilian president.

They also reached to an understanding that Musharraf will handle the war against terrorism and Benazir would lead the democratic process in the country.

Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari and Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) chief Mian Nawaz Sharif will hold another session of talks today (Wednesday).

PPP spokesman Farhatullah Baber, while briefing the media about Zardari-Nawaz Tuesday’s meeting, said that progress has been made on several vital issues in the meeting of the two elders of coalition partners.

He said that the other two coalition government partners, ANP President Asfandyar Wali Khan and JUI (F) chief Maulana Fazal-ur-Rehman will also attend the Wednesday’s meeting, adding that all the four elders of Coalition government will try to reach on a consensus on several vital issues.

It should be mentioned that Shahbaz Sharif, after his meeting with Asif Zardari, moved to Karachi, where he held talks with Asfandyar Wali and Maulana Fazal-ur-Rehman Tuesday night on the issues like impeachment of President Musharraf, reinstatement of deposed judges and others.

The meeting of the four coalition partners will be held at Zardari House Islamabad at 11:30 a.m., he said.

Earlier, the meeting between PPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari and PML-N chief Mian Nawaz Sharif ended here Tuesday.

Both the leaders also held one-to-one meeting for more than 40 minutes following their three-and-half-hour long meeting that was also attended by the other top leaders of the two parties.

PPP co-chairman also hold one-to-one meeting with Chief Minister Punjab and President PML (N) Mian Shahbaz Sharif following his meeting with Nawaz Sharif.

These meetings between the two coalition partners lasted for at least six hours.

The Head of Pakistan Muslim League-N, Mian Nawaz Sharif has said that his meeting with Pakistan Peoples Party co-chairman, Asif Ali Zardari on Tuesday is important and decisive.

PML-N leader said that if President Musharraf could keep a close eye on political and economic developments in the country, he could also do the same. Briefing media after the PML-N Central Executive Committee meeting here, Nawaz Sharif said there was complete unanimity of views that the Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) should not play any role in country’s politics.

He said that the PPP should take its coalition partners on board before making any decision of hiking petroleum and gas product prices.

Nawaz sharif said that the PML-N has reviewed all the agreements it made with the PPP after the elections. He also voiced his frustration saying that issues have yet to be resolved despite several meetings with Asif Ali Zardari.

He said that the PML-N wants to protect the coalition but not at the cost of vital issues. He also called for the deposed judges to be reinstated, and the parliament to be made sovereign.

However, he blamed the previous government for the prevailing economic crisis and the scourge of extremism.

Major coalition parties have called their respective party meetings on Monday to discuss the future course of action that would be discuss further when the two coalition partners will meet tomorrow.

A meeting of Pakistan Muslim League PML-N parliamentary party and the executive committee will meet today in Lahore.

According to sources, the PML-N meeting will mull over various affairs including the present political situation in the country, impeachment of the president and the restoration of the judges.

Sources said, PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif will decide once and for all as to keep or break up with the coalition after consultations with the parliamentary and central executive committee.

Meanwhile Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) co chairman Asif Ali Zardari has also convened a meeting of the party high-ups in Islamabad today.

This meeting has also been convened to formulate strategy for the meeting with Nawaz as PML-N will be holding its CEC and parliamentary party meeting. Most of PML-N leaders are convinced that PPP is least interested in restoration of judges, but there is a possibility that the party may agree on Musharraf’s impeachment. PML-N stalwarts are of the view that PPP must come forward with clear words on the two issues.

Zardari will host a luncheon in honour of Nawaz Sharif tomorrow, in which various affairs including the judges restoration and the comeback of PML-N to the cabinet would be discussed at large.

According to sources Zardari would try to bring Nawaz round to adopt a soft standpoint. However, PML-N sources said their party would not make any compromise on the restoration of the judges; agreement could be achieved on keep the coalition intact for the perpetuity of democracy.

PPP co chairman Asif Ali Zardari has convened a meeting of the party high-ups in Islamabad on Monday, a day ahead of make-or-break meeting with Nawaz Sharif on reinstatement of judges and impeachment of President Pervez Musharraf.

Sources told Business Recorder that the meeting has been convened to formulate strategy for the meeting with Nawaz as PML (N) will be holding its CEC and parliamentary party meeting almost at the same time in Lahore. Most of PML (N) leaders are convinced that PPP is least interested in restoration of judges, but there is a possibility that the party may agree on Musharraf’s impeachment. PML (N) stalwarts are of the view that PPP must come forward with clear words on the two issues.

Almost all major coalition partners, except the Fazlur Rahman-led Jamiat Ulema Islam (JUI-F), are supporting Musharraf impeachment and reinstatement of judges. The Awami National Party (ANP), another coalition partner, ruling in NWFP, is also supporting Musharraf impeachment as well as judges’ restoration. Despite this fact, the PPP de facto leader Zardari is not committing to deliver on the two issues.

A PML (N) leader said that reluctance of PPP, especially of Zardari, has been surprising for the ‘allies’ as there seems to be no formidable hurdle in doing so. Some party leaders are, however, of the firm opinion that separating ways from the PPP would benefit Musharraf and, therefore, the PML (N), without rejoining the cabinet, must support PPP to keep its government intact.

Independent analysts opine that PML (N) must come clear whether it is part of the government or the opposition. During the previous government, the religious alliance of MMA kept liaison with President Musharraf and PML (Q) through Fazlur Rahman despite the fact that it appeared to be in the opposition in the parliament. This factor played a decisive role in MMA dismal performance in February 18 vote. The PML (N) could also face the same situation if it behaved like what was done by MMA. According to the sources, Zardari has convened the meeting to evaluate the situation to face any eventuality. The meeting will be attended by federal ministers, and some other central leaders of the party. A PPP leader said that he did not know whether or not Amin Fahim, who is chairman of PPP-Parliamentarians, would attend the meeting.

The lawyers’ community has already warned PML (N) to take clear position on the judges’ issue. “We are expecting nothing from PPP on restoration of pre-November 3 judiciary,” Athar Minallah, spokesman for sacked chief justice Iftikhar Chaudhry, told Business Recorder.

The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) is firm to its stance of restoring higher judiciary and this position would be made clear to the PPP leadership during the coalition partners meeting which may prove final because the PML-N has waited for too long to resolve the issues for which the people of Pakistan had given them the mandate.

Sources in the PML-N told Business Recorder that even after 100 days the issues of restoring the judiciary, making Parliament sovereign and impeaching the President have not been settled and the country continues to adrift which has increased the socio-economic problems of the people.

The PML-N wanted that the agenda worked out with the PPP through talks in Dubai and the Murree Declaration must be implemented in letter and spirit and unless the issues mentioned in these documents were settled, the country would not move forward and resolve the challenges facing it, the sources said.

The PML-N also desired that all issues facing the country must be discussed in the national assembly and decided according to the supreme national interests. The PML-N secretary finance Pervaiz Malik said that the last eight years of misrule has retarded development in the country, which has increased the problems of the people manifold. He said if the PML-N was desirous of being in power, it would have not given up its 15 ministries.

Co Chairman of Pakistan Peoples Party Asif Zardari met with Prime Minster Yousuf Raza Gilani late last night here and discussed important official issues.

In a meeting held in Prime Minister House, both the leaders had discussed proposed extension in federal cabinet and appointments on parliamentary designations.

They also discussed the possible agenda of a meeting of coalition parties, which would be held on Wednesday.

Premier Gilani briefed the party chief about his Peshawar tour and meeting with tribal jirga.