Zardari convinced Nawaz not to resign during sit-in: Shah

Says peace in Sindh brought by military, Sindh govt; IG Khowaja failed to ‘fulfil expectations’; Centre playing a dangerous game

LALAMUSA: Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Syed Khursheed Ahmed Shah on Friday claimed that the Nawaz government had surrendered before those who had staged sit-ins but the PPP prevented Nawaz Sharif from stepping down.

Talking to the media here, he said peace in Sindh was brought by the military and the Sindh government. “This has nothing to do with Nawaz Sharif. The provinces are authorised after the 18th Amendment to resolve their issues. Hence the Federation should stop interfering in provinces.”

The opposition leader further said the IGP Sindh could not fulfill “our expectations due to which he was sent back”. Khursheed Shah claimed that the PPP had saved democracy in 2014 when former president Asif Ali Zardari convinced Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif not to resign, as the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) had turned up the political heat with its 2014 sit in.

“Nawaz Sharif was going to resign. We [the PPP] stopped him. We said this is parliament’s war,” Shah claimed. Zardari went to Raiwind showing the world that he had accepted Nawaz Sharif as the prime minister, he added.

Asked about the Sindh governor and PML-N leader Muhammad Zubair’s statements attributing responsibility for peace in Karachi to the premier, Shah said Nawaz had no role to play in Karachi’s improved security situation.

“Gen Raheel, the army and the provincial government have an understanding. Nawaz Sharif is not involved in this,” he said. He criticised the federal government for attempting to block the Sindh government’s move to remove Inspector General of Police AD Khowaja.

Under the 18th Amendment bill the provincial government has the right to make decisions as it deems fit, Shah said. He added that the Sindh government lacked understanding with the IG and the decision of his removal was taken to better the law and order situation in the province.

By putting blockages in the provincial government’s way, the federal government is playing a dangerous game, he said, adding that if the move was blocked the PPP would have to consider its next step. “As leader of the opposition, I have the position to fight within and without parliament for democracy.”