PPP asks Nawaz to apologise for ‘fake cases’ against Asif

Demanding Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to seek apology for registering 'fabricated cases' against Asif Ali Zardari in his previous tenure, Pakistan Peoples Party leadership on Monday vowed to revive true spirit of party and play the role of a vibrant opposition.In its 48th Foundation Day ceremony held near Bhatta Chowk and attended by a large number of party stalwarts, the PPP leadership demanded Sharif government and judiciary to play their due role in nabbing Pervez Musharraf, the former President who was declared assassin by slain PPP Chairperson Benazir Bhutto in her life. Through a resolution passed unanimously at the Foundation Day, the PPP high command also demanded that report on Model Town incident be made public immediately. It also demanded retrial of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s execution case.
The Foundation Day ceremony was addressed by central PPP leaders, including Aitzaz Ahsen, Secretary General Sardar Latif Khan Khosa, President Central Punjab Chapter Mian Manzoor Ahmed Wattoo, President Lahore Samina Khalid Ghurki, Tanvir Ashraf Kaira, Naveed Chaudhry, Aurangzeb Burki, Altaf Qureshi and others. Speaking on the occasion, Manzoor Ahmed Wattoo, President PPP Central Punjab said that it was Zulfikar Ali Bhutto who gave identity to poor and downtrodden segment of society and brought politics at the level of masses. He said that the PPP was a name of a philosophy and an ideology, adding that it was PPP which always struggled to safeguard the system from derailment. He added that as there existed no more threat to the political system, PPP would play the role of a strong opposition now and appealed party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari not to visit but stay for a longer duration in Punjab. Wattoo went on to say that both Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto were leaders of a global stature who devoted their lives for the empowerment of masses. He said both these leaders bravely combated the dictators and faced hardships whereas some other leaders had to move to Jeddah after signing a deal. He demanded the government to stop cheating farmer community in the name of its Kissan Package. He flayed the government’s policy of importing maize when sufficient quantity of the commodity was available in the country. The government has not abandoned anti-farmer policies yet, he maintained.
The PPP on the occasion passed different resolutions which stated that the Co-Chairperson of Pakistan Peoples Party Asif Ali Zardari was implicated in false and fabricated corruption cases by the previous government of Nawaz Sharif. Co-Chairperson Asif Ali Zardari had been acquitted by the Pakistani trial courts in those false cases, although he had to face trials and tribulations for 18 long years, it said.
It added that Asif Ali Zardari had to face the worst form of physical torture behind the bars. The family members of Asif Ali Zardari and the PPP workers had also suffered physical and mental agony during the previous tenures of Nawaz Sharif. “This house; therefore, demands that Nawaz Sharif should apologise to Asif Ali Zardari, his family members as well as the workers of the PPP” said the resolution.
Another resolution passed on the occasion stated that after returning from exile, Benazir Bhutto had categorically declared that General Pervez Musharraf must be held responsible if she was assassinated.
“This house feels that conspiracies are being hatched even today to save General Pervez Musharraf from the ongoing murder trial of Benazir Bhutto. Therefore, this house demands the federal government and the country’s superior judiciary to play their due role to counter such conspiracies to ensure a fair trial in the Benazir Bhutto murder case. No favour should be extended to Musharraf for being an ex-army chief” said the resolution.
The third resolution passed on the Foundation Day stated that not only the Pakistani judiciary but the legal fraternity worldwide had conceded that Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was innocent and General Ziaul Haq had falsely framed him in a murder case which eventually led to his execution in April 1979. The reference filed by the PPP in the Supreme Court of Pakistan under Article 186 of the Constitution, challenging the conviction and sentence of its founding father and ex-prime minister late Zulfikar Ali Bhutto remained pending for several years now. This house demands the Chief Justice of Pakistan Mr Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali to order a retrial of the murder case in which Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was executed.
The fourth resolution passed on the occasion stated that almost two years ago, Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari was the only Pakistani leader who was openly challenging the Taliban mafia and other such terrorists by demanding a massive action against them.
Nawaz Sharif, Imran Khan, Sirajul Haq and most of the other leaders used to insist that the Taliban are “our disgruntled brothers” and that talks should be held with them. However, after losing thousands of soldiers, all those political leaders today are following the vision of the PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, the resolution stated. This house demands that Nawaz Sharif, Imran Khan, Sirajul Haq and other such leaders should apologise to the Pakistani nation for their short vision and for having sided with the Taliban and other terrorists which had resulted in the loss of thousands of innocent citizen and Pakistani soldiers.
Meanwhile, addressing another ceremony in connection with the PPP Foundation Day, Asif Khan, President PPP Human Rights Wing Punjab said that Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was still alive in the hearts of people. He said the PPP was united under the leadership of its Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and would continue struggle for the empowerment of masses.
FAIZAN BANGASH