LAHORE, Jan 4: Expressing regrets at the rising tension between the PPP and the PML-N, Awami Muslim League (AML) president Sheikh Rashid Ahmad warns that both the parties may be ousted (from the power corridors by those who matter) if they don’t play sensibly enough to the situation.
He also warned of action under ‘foreign pressure’ against more religious outfits and seminaries after Jamaatud Dawa.
Speaking at a press conference here on Sunday, Rashid lamented that both the major parties were pitching against each other, showing that politicians had not learnt any lesson from the past (mistakes). Their tussle, he said, would lead them to their exit very soon.
Rashid said that in his recent meeting with President Asif Zardari, he had advised the PPP co-chairperson to avoid confrontational politics. But, he said, he did not believe that Zardari or Nawaz Sharif would pay any heed to the advice. “Both (sides) have their centre-forwards so either of the two shall post (a) goal.”
He apprehended that democracy might fall prey to power politics between the PPP and the PML-N.
Asked if he had also talked with President Zardari about the agreements the latter had signed with Sharif, he said those, who had paved the way to the presidency for Zardari, must have envisioned the future politics, a reference to PML-N’s support to the PPP in the formation of the government after the general election.
Rashid rejected Jamaat-i-Islami’s demand of holding midterm polls, saying the exercise could jolt the very foundations of the country.
The AML president declared PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif as the main hurdle in the unification of various factions of the Muslim League when asked about chances of the success of the move.
“Had Sharif in his visit to Data Sahib’s shrine after his return from exile talked of it (the unification), he would not have to work hard for the purpose now.” He said the unification was unlikely the way the proposal was being put forward.
Sharif had at a function here on Saturday ‘agreed’ to talks for the unification and announced holding of a debate in the party on the issue. He, however, sarcastically commented that he thought of bringing Gen Pervez Musharraf in the party folds instead of inviting those who had supported the army dictator in his eight-year ‘unconstitutional’ rule of the country.
Sheikh Rashid claimed that the forces cooling down Indian borders had planned a crackdown against Jihadi organisations and religious seminaries in the country.
The action, he argued, would have proved counterproductive had it been taken while Indian forces were on forward positions at the borders.
“Action is in the offing against more Jihadi outfits and seminaries,” he said, claiming that he, with the support of some ‘institutions’, had opposed action against the seminaries notwithstanding Gen Musharraf’s approach towards the issue.
Urging the government to review its foreign policy, he said Islamabad should look forward to China, Iran and Libya etc. instead of becoming wristwatch of a super power’s hand or cane of the West.
Condemning the Israeli aggression against innocents Palestinians, the AML leader said such barbarian acts were driving the Muslims towards extremism as no one was coming to their help. He also criticised the OIC and Islamabad for playing a poor role in this regard.
Referring to the ongoing loadshedding, he alleged that the government was mismanaging the issue by not paying to the independent power producers (IPPs) their dues on time.
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