Sherry told Zardari anti-army remarks should have been avoided

ISLAMABAD: The fiery speech of the PPP co-Chairman and former president Asif Ali Zardari faced severe criticism not only from the party, but also from his close aide who told him that the anti-army remarks should have been avoided.
According to sources, soon after Zardari’s speech, the PPPP Vice President Senator Sherry Rehman said it was not the time to make such a statement when the army was busy fighting against terrorists in the tribal areas. Sources said when the issue came under discussion in the Central Executive Committee of the PPP, all the top leaders, including former prime ministers Yusuf Raza Gilani and Raja Pervez Ashraf, were sitting silent but when Senator Sherry Rehman openly opposed the anti-army remarks of the former president and suggested damage control measures, Gilani took courage and opposed Mr. Zardari’s remarks, while Raja Pervez Ashraf was critical of the remarks after two days.
Senator Rehman opined that the PPP should have praised the army that was fighting against terrorists for the better future of the country. She also praised the role of Army Chief General Raheel Sharif saying he was a brave soldier leading the war against terrorists from the front.
Source said Senator Rehman advised issuing a clarification to clear the misunderstanding.Sources said Sherry Rehman and Qamar Zaman Kaira were tasked with taking damage control measures, as the party co-chairman was of view that his speech was “misunderstood”, as he was pointing out the misdeeds of those dictators who ruled the country for more than 40 years and still one dictator was untouchable.
Following the instructions of the co-chairman, Qamar Zaman Kaira and Senator Sherry Rehman in a talk with the media on Friday said the PPP held Staff General Raheel Sharif in high esteem as he was brave and true soldier. Qamar Zaman Kaira said the PPP did not raise finger at the military even when Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was hanged.“We never held the whole army responsible for Bhutto’s handing but Zia and his cronies in the army,” he said.