According to well-placed sources, former interior minister Rehman Malik was assigned a task of bridging gap between Zardari and Pakistan army. “What happened is that someone met Zardari and attributed the statement to him”, he said, adding that it was a great blunder on the PPP media cell’s part to issue the statement without clearance.
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The PPP leader, in today’s key statement, further said that overall security situation of the country worsened in the aftermath of militant attack on Army Public School in Peshawar.
Pakistan People Party co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari on Monday praised Pakistan Army and assured his party is standing with Pakistan Army. Zardari’s statement sparked debates on private TV channels. Opposition leader Khursheed Shah and Qamar Zaman Kaira visited National Press Club.
This was a departure from the earlier stance when last month Zardari hailed the army chief’s decision of not taking extension.
The incumbent army chief on January 25 had said that he does not “believe in extension and will retire on due date”.
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In a statement, Bilawal said, being a major party in all the provinces, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan and the tribal areas, the PPP had protected the rights of downtrodden segment of the society. He urged the nation and political forces to unite and stand shoulder to shoulder with the armed forces in order to root out the menace of terrorism from the country. PPP MPA Khurram Wattoo told Daily Express that Gen Raheel’s services are commendable and his retirement would be premature. “As the country is passing through a sensitive phase, the PPP considers Gen Sharif’s decision as premature”, the statement cited Zardari saying. “The decision can transform people’s hopes into disappointment, while it may also give a negative perception”. “Certain quarters are pointing out the military’s role in political matters, accountability and national affairs should refrain from doing so”.
