HYDERABAD: Adviser to the Chief Minister on Information Maula Bux Chandio on Sunday continued his criticism of the federal government over departure of former president retired Gen Pervez Musharraf insisting that had the dictator been punished under the treason charges, no one in future would have even thought of derailing democracy. “The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has launched the ‘Go Nawaz Go’ campaign because his government has endangered democracy,” he said.

Mr Chandio was speaking to journalists at a local hotel where he attended a seminar on ‘Right to information’ organised by the Shehri -- Citizens for a Better Environment.

He alleged that by allowing Gen Musharraf to leave the country the Pakistan Muslim Leauge-Nawaz (PML-N) government had reciprocated the favours it had received from him in the past.

“There is a big difference between [PPP founder chairman] Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and [PML-N president] Nawaz Sharif vis-a-vis how they valued democracy ... the former preferred to walk to the gallows over compromising on principles whereas the latter agreed to leave the country to save his own life,” Mr Chandio contended.

Ridiculing the PML-N’s claim of being a pro-democracy party having rendered great sacrifices, Mr Chandio said they started crying foul when they had to spend only one day in jail. The PPP co-chairman, Asif Ali Zardari, spent several years in jail and never raised a hue and cry. He described PML-N leaders as “artificial politicians”.

In reply to a question about the federal government’s contention that Gen Musharraf would sure be returning home after getting the requisite medical treatment abroad, Mr Chandio remarked: “Perhaps [Interior Minister] Chaudhry Nisar is more optimistic than Musharraf’s supporters.”

Replying to another question, he said the PPP campaign was in protest against PML-N’s handling of the affair and not targeted against Gen Musharraf.

He also contested the minister’s claim that the former president was allowed to leave the country in compliance with the Supreme Court directive, arguing that the SC had actually sought the government’s comment on the plea.

Mr Chandio also claimed that the PPP never supported the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO). He repeated his party’s stance that the ongoing action by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and other institutions was one-sided and being carried out in Sindh alone.

Mr Chandio also discussed the issue of accountability while speaking at the seminar on ‘Right to information’ and described the relevant law as an important tool to give people access to information about mismanagement and malpractices. He said that accountability was possible only when people were given access to all relevant information.

Published in Dawn, March 21st, 2016