TARBELA GHAZI - Former speaker National Assembly and former foreign minister Gohar Ayub Khan has said that all the matters between Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and like-minded group have been finalised and the final draft in this regard has been sent to the PML-N President Mian Nawaz Sharif for his signature.
Talking to this scribe at his residence in Islamabad the other day, he said Nawaz Sharif was in the UK now-a-days for treatment of his wife and as soon as he came back the draft would get his assent. He said formal announcement regarding alliance between PML-N and like-minded group would be made after the signature of Mian Nawaz Sharif on the draft.
Gohar Ayub Khan said according to the agreement like-minded group would contest the coming election as an ally of PML-N and seat adjustment had also been finalized. He added that however a few politicians would properly join PML-N, formally making their induction in it.
To a question, Gohar Ayub confirmed that he was going to properly join PML-N but after the signature of Mian Nawaz Shrif on the agreement. He said Ch Shujaat Hussain convinced Gen (Retd) Pervez Musharraf to impose restriction on third time premiership through 17th Amendment and the same restriction was also included in the constitution of PML-Q for the party president but later he made himself third time party president with a stance that the party constitution had been amended.
Gohar Ayub Khan said the constitution was never amended as he always remained present in all the party meetings and still that clause was incorporated in the party constitution, adding that the same conflict led a number of party members to establish likeminded group.
To a question regarding Mehran Bank scandal, Gohar Ayub Khan said the voice was raised in the National Assembly that time and an enquiry was also conducted but when the case was under trial in the Supreme Court, Gen (Retd) Pervez Musharraf took over the country’s charge and the case was shelved. Gohar Ayub Khan was of the view that a proper investigation of the case was necessary so as to expose the real faces of the responsible. He further said that the case was now sub-judice, adding that proper enquire would help minimise the role of agencies in politics.
He said the agencies role in national politics increase during the regime of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and later during the Afghan war, but at that time their role was also praised the world over owing to their help and provision of trainings to Afghan Mujahidin. He said now the situation has been changed, as democracy is getting strengthened and it has become very difficult to topple a government that is why despite worst kind of situation during the last four years many times Pakistan Army did not seem keen to interfere in the government affairs.
Gohar Ayub Khan said that no martial law was imposed in the country under preplanning but it always occurred accidentally. He referred to various cases including General Akbar Conspiracy case, General Abbasi Conspiracy case, General Tajamal Conspiracy Case and said conspiracies were made to take over the government.
Talking about Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, Gohar Ayub Khan said PTI had not even its own manifesto but it was surprising that the people including retired generals, judges, bureaucrats and even parliamentarians are joining it, leaving their assembly seats.
Gohar Ayub Khan said Hazara ‘province’ was not only a dream, but it was a facts based issue. He said Hazara would have to be made province at all costs. He said new provinces were need of the hour and should be established where the situation and people demanded.
Referring to 9/11 incident and its effects on Pakistan, Gohar Ayub Khan said that Musharraf should have not got tilted merely on a single call from the US official, but he should have discussed the issue with his Core Commanders and parliamentarians. “We could have got a better remuneration for the country on our own terms and conditions.” He said it was further a bad luck that most of their agreements with the US were verbal, not written.
Talking about Balochistan, he said four major offices - office of President, Prime Minister, Speaker National Assembly and Chairman Senate - should be given to Balochistan people, as it would remove their deprivations. He said no major ministry like Finance, Commerce or Water and Power had been given to Balochistan. He said they needed to see how many times president, prime minister or any important minister paid visit to Balochistan. He said Balochistan Assembly should play its role to eliminate the deprivation of people by utilising funds with honesty.
Gohar Ayub Khan said it is a fact that during the Musharraf regime no plan was made for enhancing the power capacity and Musharraf had been trying to get the credit of Ghazi Barotha Project that he inaugurated but in fact it was a project of Mian Nawaz Sharif government.
He also termed construction of Kala Bagh Dam essential and said that it has been politicised just for nothing.