ISLAMABAD - Former president Asif Ali Zardari Wednesday said that ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif should sack people who were conspiring against him and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz-led government.
Speaking to journalists here at the wedding reception of former prime minister Raja Pervez Ashraf’s son, Zardari said if Nawaz Sharif had some ‘secret’ he must share it with others.
“He should share the secret with us. His party is in the government and if he knows who is conspiring against him, he should get the elements sacked,” the PPP co-Chairman said.
Earlier in the day, Nawaz Sharif threatened to spill the beans before the nation if conspiracies against him were not stopped. “Everything is linked with transparent and fair elections. Democracy should not be made a slave of anyone’s desires. All surveys suggest the PML-N is leading in popularity. No one should steal our mandate,” he said.
Asif Ali Zardari said the PPP’s mandate was stolen in 2013 but Nawaz Sharif kept mum. “He does not remember when our mandate was stolen. Why is he is complaining,” he added.
To a question, he said he prays that Sharif’s Umara (mini-pilgrimage) gets divine approval but “I don’t think he has brought anything from Saudi Arabia.”
“He (Nawaz Sharif) kept secrets with himself for four years and is now threatening to make them public. This is strange,” he remarked.
Separately, PPP leader Senator Aitzaz Ahsan said Sharif was competing with his own brother – Shahbaz Sharif. “He is illogically complaining of conspiracies. He has governments in the centre and two provinces. All governors are from his party. The top ministers belong to the PML-N. One can’t understand who is conspiring,” he said.
Ahsan said Sharif was trying to blackmail the institutions, which was a damaging attitude. “He should tell us who is conspiring against him. He is not ready to share the secret,” the PPP leader maintained.
To a question, Ahsan said how can the two brothers – Nawaz Sharif and Shahbaz Sharif – go into exile and let Maryam Nawaz rule the country.
“Issuing warnings won’t work. He should come out open. Nawaz Sharif’s warnings should translate into reality. He should come out with the truth,” the Senator said.
Sindh Home Minister Manzoor Wassan said January was a difficult month for the government. “If they survive this month, the elections will be held on time,” he said.
Wassan, who is known for his prophecies, said the January was ‘cold’ for the government. “This coldness could result in anything,” he quipped.
Meanwhile, PPP Senator Sassi Palejo said Pakistan was a sovereign nation and any attempt to disregard Pakistan’s great sacrifices against global militancy and extremism will be resisted through peaceful and diplomatic means.
“We have played our part to make our region a safer place over the years and now it’s time for others to step up and take responsibility. No power in the world can force its agenda on us,” she said.