* PPP Punjab leaders ask CJP to take suo moto action against Nawaz, Shahbaz for lodging fake cases against Zardari

Staff Report

LAHORE: The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Punjab has asked Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz chief Nawaz Sharif to apologise to the nation for keeping President Asif Ali Zardari in jail for 11 and half years by lodging fake cases against him.

Addressing a press conference at a local hotel, PPP Punjab Information Secretary Dr Fakharuddin Chaudhry, Iqbal Sialvi and Athar Shah said Nawaz and Shahbaz were involved in wrongdoings against the PPP co-chairman for which they should apologise to the nation. Sharifs’ wrongdoings have been exposed through the audio recordings that surfaced in the media, they said.

Dr Fakharuddin demanded Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry take suo moto action against all the people involved in making fake cases against President Zardari.

He also warned that the PPP would be forced to expose Nawaz’s corruption, including money laundering and using billions of rupees public money on the renovation of his Raiwind Palace, if he failed to beg pardon.

He said though Nawaz’s pardon would not bring back the time the president had spent in jail, but at least the nation would get some relief from the free judiciary and democratic system.

He said in case Nawaz did not accept his faults, then the nation would hold him accountable for his corruption.

Providing details of different malpractices by Sharif brothers during their governments in centre and Punjab, he said the Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited spent Rs 20 million to provide 200 telephone lines exchange to the Raiwind Palace, WAPDA spent Rs 50 million on electricity lines, the Irrigation Department incurred Rs 80 million, two-way roads construction cost Rs 320 million, Sui gas spent Rs 70 million and the Pakistan Works Department spent Rs 80 millions on the renovation of the palace.

He said it was greatness of President Zardari that he pardoned all of his rivals, including Sharif brothers. President Zardari has not only forgiven all his opponents but also proved it by adopting the policy of reconciliation.

Because of this policy, there was no political prisoner in any jail, he said.

The PPP leader urged the chief justice of Pakistan to quash all fake cases registered against President Zardari keeping in view the confession of Nawaz regarding his wrongdoings in the past.

On a query that why PPP was not going against Sharif brothers in the court, he said his party believed in an independent judiciary and the judges had already taken many suo moto actions on different important issues.

He also criticised the provincial government, including Law Minister Rana Sanaullah for their alleged links with terrorist organisations.