Lahore (May 01, 2018): Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has said that the recent statement of Asif Ali Zardari, the former President and Co-Chairman of PPP does not suit him, adding that he does not want to engage in a war of words with the former president.
In a statement today, Nawaz asked whether Zardari was so innocent that he got duped by him [Nawaz]. He claimed that he sent a message disliking Zardari’s remarks during his ‘anti-establishment’ speech in 2015.
He added that he then cancelled a planned meeting with Zardari the next day.
Former PM said that Asif Ali Zardari wanted to give weightage to “others”, he warned Asif Zardari not to manipulate history and avoid allegations.
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The PML-N supremo then advised the PPP leader not to distort history and avoid mudslinging.
He wondered why Zardari didn’t make public his claim that he [Nawaz] advised him to make the remarks.
“Why is Zardari now speaking the ‘truth’ after three years,” he asked, asserting that being opposed to former president General (Retd) Pervez Musharraf shouldn’t translate into being against an institution.
“To become a part of the government, our conditions were Musharraf’s impeachment, restoration of the deposed judges and abolition of the 17th Amendment,” Nawaz shared.
Zardari should remember he came to meet me in Raiwind along with a national political figure, recalled Nawaz.
Nawaz claimed he rejected Zardari’s proposal to condone Musharraf’s action by an act of Parliament, adding that Zardari is aware that he has nothing to do with the NAB action against Dr Asim Hussain and other Sindh government members.
“Zardari said he was acting on my directions. Now he should tell the public whose puppet he is,” said Nawaz.
The three-time prime minister then advised Zardari to read the writing on the wall and focus on the upcoming elections and refrain from mudslinging.
He said Zardari wanted the endorsement from the parliament of all the steps taken by Pervez Musharraf, which he rejected.
He said that Federal Govt had no role in raids of NAB in Sindh, raids were conducted on the orders of then DG Rangers Sindh.
Nawaz Sharif said masses are irked now by the politics, which Asif Ali Zardari is doing now, the vote has to be given preference, Nawaz added.
Zardari had claimed on Monday that Nawaz had taken every opportunity to discredit him by making him fight with the establishment while he himself extended a hand of friendship towards them.
The former president said that Nawaz had encouraged him to fight the establishment but he shook hands with them.
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He added, “Nawaz will suffer now, I will not join hands with him anymore.”
“We used to think that Nawaz was very innocent, but he is far more cunning and opportunistic than we thought,” Zardari said, as per sources.
“Nawaz has sold us out on every occasion and we were duped by him at all times. I wanted to maintain social relations with Nawaz but he took advantage of my goodwill.”
Asif Zardari said we supported Nawaz Sharif, when govt filed treason case against Pervez Musharraf, NS assured not to let Musharraf go abroad, but later he allowed him to flee away, Zardari added.
Commenting upon his ‘brick for brick’ speech, Zardari said he made the statement after being duped by Nawaz.
In a heated speech on June 16, 2015, Zardari had warned the establishment not to overstep its mandate. “Don’t disturb us or we will also respond to a brick with a brick,” he had said, adding “there is a limit to everything. Do not interfere in matters where you have no authority.”
Zardari explained that Nawaz took advantage of the statement and tried to set the record straight with former army chief General Raheel Sharif.
Nawaz also ordered organisations such as National Accountability Bureau among others to take action in Sindh, Zardari claimed.
In his June 16, 2015 speech, Zardari had criticised the establishment and his political opponents warning them that the day his party took to the streets, not just Sindh’s, but the entire country’s roads will be blocked.
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