KARACHI: Speaking to the host of Geo New programme ‘Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Saath’ on Monday, senior journalist Hamid Mir said Dr Asim Husain’s arrest for terror financing is a matter of serious nature. According to sources, Hamid Mir told Shahzeb Khanzada, the prime minister did not know about Dr Asim’s arrest on the basis of terror financing. However, Asif Zardari has declared ‘war’ against Nawaz Sharif who does not appear willing for any confrontation. Hamid Mir was of the view that confrontations between political parties is not in country’s interest, therefore, it is the PM’s endeavour not to lock horns with the People’s Party. The PML-N is trying to placate the People’s Party but there is no positive response as yet. There is now the probability that brother Muslim countries will arrange a handclasp. Hamid Mir said the present situation requires viewing it in international perspective. He said the statements of US National Security advisor and German foreign minister after talks during their visit do not go in Pakistan’s favour. The international community, instead of taking notice of the Indian shelling on Pakistan borders, is talking to Pakistan regarding Afghanistan. The evidences of terror funding by Dr Asim should be made known after which we will have no basis to protest, said leader of Pakistan People’s Party Senator Saeed Ghani, while talking to Shahzeb Khanzada. The PPP leader said presently the authority to arrest anyone is being used. He pointed out that politics of reconciliation doesn’t mean just a policy of mere mutual understanding (muk muka). He recounted that the People’s Party opposed the PML-N in the Senate on its wrongdoings; we also did what we should have done in the capacity of opposition in the House. We also ensured that no harm was done to the democratic system during the ‘dharnas’. The Senator said, “Whatever is going on with the Sindh government or People’s Party is the responsibility of the federal government. We expect from the federal government as our reservations are not being taken care of by the institutions.” He said that 12 FIRs had been registered against Yusuf Raza Gilani and Amin Fahim during the present regime, but these were not serious issues on the basis of which need to blackmail anyone. “Authority and force are being misused in Sindh,” he said. It is misuse of authority by Rangers to arrest anyone on the allegation of terror financing, he said. Senator Saeed Ghani said that no institution could be allowed to break the law on the excuse of Karachi Operation. He said the Rangers, if they need to acquire more powers, should approach the provincial government, but cannot carryout any operation crossing the limits. Our focus should be on eliminating terrorism from the country, he added. The Senator said it is unbelievable that Dr Asim would ask any ambulance driver to transfer weapons in the vehicle. He said the people for whom it being said already had so many resources that they did not need to use ambulance of Ziauddin Hospital for this purpose. Taking up the same topic, Federal Minister Abdul Qadir Baloch said the details of what Dr Asim was funding may be provided to the People’s Party. These details, along with the charge sheet on Dr Asim would also be provided if the People’s Party was willing. He said that Asif Zardari had made reconciliation with the PML-N in the national interest. He pointed out that none of the political parties showed any leniency towards the PML-N in the National Assembly. Baloch said that the PML-N was not willing any confrontation but was ready for it if the People’s Party wanted it. The minister said the people had given approval for action against terrorism and corruption and no one could back out from the action as no political government could go against the will of the people. He asserted that the Operation would continue. Baloch said that the people of Sindh would also not go against the Operation and claimed that no one was victimised during the Karachi Operation. It should be pointed out if there is any such complaint. Responding to a question Abdul Qadir Baloch said he spoke to Sindh chief minister on Afghan refugees and other matters. He had made some complaints but did not speak on this matter. Former chief minister of Punjab, Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi said that the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) was being reorganised. Now onwards the PML-Q will do the politics on issues, he added. He said that many of the PML-Q candidates lost the election 2013 due to rigging by Iftikhar Chaudhry. He said that the masterminds of the rigging were all of the four members of the Election Commission and should resign without any delay. He said thousands of people of PML-Q had participated in the dharna. He said that Nawaz Sharif was not the real leader, and benefited the most from Benazir Bhutto’s death. He said that the PML-Q had opposed the NRO of Pervez Musharraf. He stated that the PML-Q won 85 seats in Punjab in the worst conditions, while the PML-N had won 95 seats. He pointed out that politics is not a one-day cricket; it is rather a series. He said the political parties do not vanish and their seats increase or decrease according to prevailing situations. Elahi claimed that he did not remain a minister of any martial law government. He insisted that he was right when he talked about electing Pervez Musharraf as president of Pakistan in uniform as he had been permitted to do so by the Supreme Court. He criticised that it were the ministers of Nawaz Sharif took their oath with President Musharraf in uniform. Referring to the statement of Asif Zardari, Pervaiz Elahi said Nawaz Sharif was secretly playing a double game. He said the prime minister should state whether the federal institutions were taking actions in Sindh with permission from the federal government. He suggested that anyone having reservations against Karachi Operation should approach the courts.
