Zardari targets Nawaz, spares army and Rangers

ISLAMABAD: Contrary to what he said on June 16 PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari was all praise for the Pakistan army on Monday while he declared open war on Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. He targeted Nawaz Sharif but spared the army or Rangers in whose custody his trusted friend Dr Asim Hussain is.
On Monday Zardari issued a well thought-out statement criticising Nawaz Sharif but praising the army for defending the borders and waging war against terror.
In a hard-hitting statement issued from London Zardari said, “At a time when our innocent citizens were being killed by indiscriminate bombing in border villages by the enemy; when Pakistani Army is fighting a decisive war against the terrorists and also fighting at our borders, Mian Nawaz Sharif, instead of challenging the real enemy, is targeting People’s Party and other political opponents”.
The former President said that the steps being taken by the government clearly indicate that they are dividing the nation in an attempt to save their natural allies Taliban and the terrorists and weaken the war against terror. Asif Ali Zardari said that Pakistan People’s Party stands fully with the Army in the ongoing war against terrorism.
“We salute our jawans who gave ultimate sacrifice in this war.”
The above statement is in total contrast to what he said just two and a half months ago. Zardari’s speech had caused ripples across the country when he severely the generals. He had said that he knew how many cases were in the courts and how many generals are accomplices.
He had warned: “don’t target us or we’ll turn everything upside down; stop throwing dirt at us; this is our army, our institution; you stay in office for three years and then go back home; I, not Musharraf, know the threats being faced by the motherland; I remained in jail for five years under him but the ‘commando’ was not ready for three months’ imprisonment; everything will come to a halt from Khyber to Karachi the day I stand up; only those who shouldered the coffins of their loved ones know the worth of democracy.” He has been wise enough this time not to drag the army into the political arena.