LAHORE - Leader of Opposition Syed Khursheed Shah yesterday viewed nothing ‘irresponsible’ in what Railway Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique said on the chain of command in the army.

Syed Khursheed Shah said this while commenting upon the ISPR reaction to Khawaja Saad Rafique’s statement made on Sunday last on the occasion of the death anniversary of his father.

The leader of Opposition questioned Sharifs’ visit to Saudi Arabia and said they had kept the masses in dark about its purpose. Shah said the people were watching the Sharifs going to Saudi Arabia through a plane especially sent by the Kingdom and wanted to know all about it. He questioned the imminent visit of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif to Saudi Arabia following that of his younger brother Shehbaz Sharif about which the masses must be satisfied.

In the background of the disqualification verdict against Nawaz Sharif, the NAB cases against the Sharifs before the trial court and others in the pipeline, he smelt another National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) in the offing with the courtesy of the Saudi government. He said they have great respect for the Saudi government, but Pakistan is a nuclear power and has its policies, so its politicians should themselves resolve their issues and take decisions.

Shah said it is very painful to go to others to get their problems solved. Mentioning the disqualification verdict against Nawaz Sharif, he said the current situation is adumbrative of a patch-up and pardon, which would be pathetic.

When asked about the PPP NRO with Pervez Musharraf, Khursheed Shah said it was totally different since it aimed at putting the country back on the path of democracy and ending the military rule which is not the case this time. He said if any NRO is struck, the principal institutions should be shut, he said, referring to the judiciary.

When asked about the tenure of the present government, leader of the Opposition said the government should complete the tenure, adding if the assemblies do not complete their terms, it will be violation of the constitution. He said they want elections on time and continuity of the democratic process. “We want continuity of politics, political process, democracy and parliament in the country,” he added.

To another question, Khursheed Shah suggested holding of elections in AJK and Gilgit-Baltistan the same day in the country.

When asked the about the likely dharna of the PAT, he said holding a protest was a constitutional right, but that must not a trouble creator for the masses about their movement. He supported the PAT on the killings of its people in Model Town and demanded justice on it.

To a question on the Fata merger with KP, he said his party staunchly supports the demand, but said the government seems indecisive on the matter due to some compulsion. He, however, hoped the issue would be resolved soon.