LAHORE - PPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari, expressing a complete ignorance about Sharifs’ visit to Saudi Arabia, ruled out the possibility that the ousted prime minister will get an NRO as a result of any negotiation between Pakistan’s military establishment and the Saudi kings being considered close to the Sharif family.
“It was the dictatorial rule of Parvez Musharraf when the last NRO was enacted. I’m sure it can’t be done now,” he said, talking to media persons here yesterday.
“I’m not aware about the purpose of Nawaz Sharif and Shehbaz Sharif’s visit to Saudi Arabia. Nothing can be said for sure about it,” he added.
Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif are on Saudi Arabia’s visit amid speculations of another NRO. There are reports about an attempt to manage another national reconciliation ordinance (NRO).
To a question about the National Accountability Bureau, Zardari said the anti-graft body only victimised the Sindh province.
To another question about Pervez Musharraf, he asked the former general to return to Pakistan and face the courts in legal cases lodged against him.
When asked about PAT Chairman Dr Tahirul Qadri’s role to gather different political parties on the same table, he said the country got another Nawabzada Nasrullah Khan in the person of Dr Qadri.
Meanwhile, PPP Senator Ch Aitzaz Ahsan said both the Sharifs have developed differences as Shehbaz Sharif is making hectic efforts to reach the prime minister office after the elections next year.
Talking to media persons on the Lahore Court premises, Ch Aitzaz said the Sharifs have reached a point where there political survival appears difficult.
On the visit of Sharifs to Saudi Arabia, he said the Saudis too cannot do anything for them. Aitzaz also revealed Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s sudden departure to Saudi Arabia took place in the plane of former Army Chief General Raheel Sharif and not that of the Saudi Royal family. This was a gesture on the part of Shehbaz Sharif to show that he is a favourite of the army and the judiciary, he added. He further said it was the fear of his younger brother’s mind that Nawaz Sharif had flown to Saudi Arabia. He asserted that the deposed prime minister did not fly to Saudi Arabia on the call of the Royal members. “Shehbaz Sharif wants to become the next prime minister of Pakistan while the party vote is with Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz,” he said. In this scenario, Shehbaz Sharif is making hectic efforts to get any support which could help him reach the PM office.
Aitzaz Ahsan said Shehbaz Sharif conveyed from Riyadh that he was holding meetings with the Saudi royal dignitaries, but, actually, the royal members cannot do anything for him.
To a question, Aitzaz said the prime minister has indicated at declaring Jati Umra as Adiala Jail.
To another question on PPP support for Dr Tahirul Qadri on the Model Town killings, he said his party’s contact did not purport political alliance with Dr Qadri’s PAT.
The purpose of the visit of Nawaz Sharif and Shehbaz Sharif revolves around their shell company, Hill Metal, which is used for money laundering and stashing wealth abroad, claimed PTI spokesperson Fawad Chaudhry, addressing a press conference on Monday.
He further claimed Sharifs were seeking a deal with the country’s establishment and Saudi royal family over their “corruption.” But, he added, the nation would not accept any NRO this time. If they were given escape on their loot, all the criminals who were in jails should also be allowed to walk free.
Quoting Indian reports about Nawaz Sharif’s deal, he questioned why there were celebrations in India over Nawaz’s escape. He accused Ishaq Dar of serving as Nawaz’s henchman to launder money through offshore companies, including Capital FZE. He linked Sharifs’ visit to the kingdom as cleaning the money trail about the family being probed by accountability courts.
He said PTI would announce tickets after a meeting of its parliamentary board scheduled to be held on January 10.
On the other hand, PTI, PML-Q and Pakistan Awami Tehreek have linked the Sharifs’s visit to Saudi Arabia to the kingdom’s drive against corruption.
PAT Chairman Dr Tahirul Qadri and PML-Q senior leader Ch Parvez Elahi have endorsed the views of the PTI leader about Sharifs’ tour to KSA. Dr Qadri said the Sharifs will get no escape in the Model Town issue and their alleged corruption of billions of rupees. “Sharif brothers will be behind bars prior to the Senate and general elections,” claimed Ch Parvez.