LAHORE - PPP-P President Asif Ali Zardari Monday alleged that PML-N chief Mian Nawaz Sharif used him against the Establishment while he himself tried to get close to it.
Party sources quoted the former president as having told this to PPP leaders who called on him at Bilawal House, Lahore on Monday.
Zardari revealed that Nawaz Sharif backtracked after encouraging him to issue a strong-worded statement against the army generals.
It may be recalled that PPP leader had then challenged the army generals, saying he would tighten the screws on them if they dared touch him or his close aides. Later, Zardari had to spend over a year in self-exile after this statement.
PPP leader further revealed that Nawaz Sharif also backtracked from his commitment made on the matter of holding the former president Pervez Musharraf accountable under charges of high treason.
“When I was president and sought his support to try the former army chief [under article 6], the PML-N chief attached conditions in exchange for his party’s support on the issue.” he further told the party leaders.
Asif said that after coming into power Nawaz Sharif had assured him through his messenger [Fawad Hasan Fawad] that Musharraf would not be allowed to go. “It was after this assurance that I gave the statement that “ billa” would not be allowed to go but Nawaz allowed Musharraf to leave the country in a bid to reconcile with the then army chief General Raheel Sharif. “I later came to know that Nawaz had struck a deal with the army chief for sending Musharraf abroad even before extending me this assurance”, he said.
Zardari said that he had thought that Nawaz Sharif was innocent but he turned out to be more cunning and opportunist. He assured the party men that he would not shake hands with Nawaz in any circumstance and will let him suffer for his betrayal.
He also alleged that NAB and other federal agencies became active against his party in Sindh on the instructions of Nawaz Sharif. He said he had supported Nawaz Sharif in the past for the sake of establishing civilian supremacy.
Zardari said he was also desirous of establishing social ties with Nawaz Sharif but he took undue advantage of his good intention and betrayed him on every occasion.
“We kept on doing politics but he kept on doing business”, he said.
Also, custodians of different shrines including Syed Muqaddas Kazmi, Tahir Sajjad and Khurram Gilani called on Asif Ali Zardari at Bilawal House and announced to support the PPP in the coming elections. Senior party leaders including Ch Manzoor, Amir Fida Paracha, Tasnim Qureshi, ex-MPA, Aslam Middiyana, Mahreen Anwar Raja and Jahan Ara Wattoo were also present on the occasion.
Nawaz used me against establishment: Zardari
