PPP protests terror charges against Dr Asim

ISLAMABAD: Launching a strong protest against the arrest of Dr Asim Hussain, close aide of former President Asif Ali Zardari, the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Thursday announced that it will not tolerate the charges of terrorism financing and sought explanation from the government on ongoing National Action Plan (NAP) against terrorism.
PPP Vice President Sherry Rehman, while addressing a press conference along with PPP Information Secretary Qamar Zaman Kaira, questioned that how can laws formulated against terrorists be applied on national politicians. “We have given sacrifices in war against terrorism, how can anyone blame PPP for supporting terrorists?” she said.
Kaira said the PPP will not stand any accusation of terrorism. “Let us know if you want to declare the PPP a terrorist party and if that happens then there will be a war,” he said.
He said the PPP will not take any such heat whether it’s coming from the government or an “institution”. ”We do not believe in the politics of confrontation,” he added. The press conference was held following the directives issued by PPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari to the party to lodge strong protest against arrest of party leaders.
Sherry demanded to put into practice the law used for ‘white-collar crimes’ against her party leaders instead. She said the timing of non-bailable arrest warrants against PPP leaders is questionable, because the PPP chairman is meeting with youth and office-bearers, reorganising the party. “What message we have been given at this specific time. The institutions have to play their role in accordance with the provisions given in the Constitution,” she said.
She said the PPP would not allow politics of victimisation in the name of accountability, as the NAB is only targeting PPP. “We are not afraid of cases as we have always respected the courts and faced them with dignity,” she said.
She said facing cases were not a new thing for the PPP and “we are ready to appear before the courts and our leadership has always respected accountability courts and appeared when ever called”.
She said the PPP is not ready to support corruption, but accountability should be undertaken across the board. “The PPP has always believed in politics of reconciliation and strengthened the national institutions,” she added.
Kaira vowed to raise the matter on constitutional forums. “We will defend the sanctity of Pakistan and will bear all sort of allegations but not the allegation of terrorism,” he added.
He said the nation will never find them doing politics that leads to the derailment of democracy. “We have faced the courts before and we will do so now,” he said. Kaira said the PPP was not afraid of trial but all the organisation should work under the law. “The federal government should rationally see this matter and party is ready to talk with it,” he added.
In a reply to another question, Senator Sherry Rehman said that PPP would prefer to use parliamentary forum first and stage protest within the limits of law. “We are not in favour of politics of sit-ins,” she said.
To a question regarding the return of Co-Chairman PPP and former President Asif Ali Zardari, she said that he will return soon.