Says we know how many cases are in court and how many generals are accomplices; don’t target us or we’ll turn everything upside down; stop dishing dirt at us; this is our army, our institution; you stay in office for three years and then go back home; I, not Musharraf, know the threats being faced by the motherland; I remained in jail for five years under him but the ‘commando’ was not ready for three months’ imprisonment; everything will come to a halt from Khyber to Karachi the day I stand up; only those who shouldered the coffins of their loved ones know the worth of democracy
By our correspondents
June 17, 2015
ISLAMABAD: Stop targeting us or we’ll turn everything upside down, said the PPP Co-chairman and former president Asif Ali Zardari in an angry and barely disguised warning to the military establishment on Tuesday. His severe reaction seemed a response to the allegations of corruption, land-grabbing, smuggling of Iranian oil and extortion levelled by the paramilitary Rangers against the Sindh government and political leadership in a recent report. Addressing the oath-taking ceremony of the PPP KhyberPakhtunkhwa (KP) chapter’s office-bearers here, a grim-aced Zardari said many generals’ skeletons would pour out of the cupboard the day he released his own list. “The PPP has the strength to shake everything, as ‘when the PPP moves, it jolts all others’. Stop victimizing us or we will tear you limb from limb. We do not want to undermine your establishment. So be advised... You have been warned, you have been warned, you have been warned. “Stop dishing the dirt at us. There will be the domino effect if we started your character-assassination,” warned Zardari.PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto, former Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani, former chairman Senate Syed Nayyar Hussain Bokhari and Senator Sherry Rehman attended the ceremony. “This is our army, our institution. You stay in office for say three years, then you go home. On the contrary, we are here to stay. We never retire,” he said.“We know how many cases are being tried in the court and how many generals are accomplice.” The PPP leader said he was not worried about power but the people and his party.“The day I stood up not only Sindh, but also everything from Khyber to Karachi will come to a halt.”He said mid-term elections would have been held if his party had supported Imran Khan’s PTI-led protests against the government last year. “We are watching the political game, political moves and waiting for the right time to arrive… let those play whom we provided the bat and the ball,” said the former president.He said new elections would have been held if the PPP had submitted resignations from the assemblies along with the PTI. “I spent five years of my life in jail, but the ‘brave commando’ (Musharraf) doesn’t have the heart to go to jail for as short as three months,” Zardari said scoffing at the former military ruler. “Musharraf does not know how many threats Pakistan is facing currently, but I do,” he remarked.“At the time of Benazir Bhutto’s martyrdom, I said Pakistan Khappay but, there’s a limit to everything,” he said. He said none but only those who shouldered the coffins of their near and dear ones knew the worth of democracy.NNI adds: “Some people are thinking of indulging into power politics again but we are weighing all options. Let those govern who have been given power,” said Zardari. “Those accusing the PPP are wrongdoers according to the holy Quran. We are well aware of the people upon whose orders banned outfits work”, he said.The PPP leader also reminded Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif of his party’s adhering to the motto of “Democracy Must Go On” while Imran Khan-led Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) was pressuring Sharif to resign.
