ISLAMABAD: The Interior Minister, Sheikh Rashid Ahmad made an attempt to rewrite history after claiming that the Pakistani army never interfered in politics despite the fact that Pakistan witnessed four military dictators.
Sheikh Rasheed rebuked the opposition’s claims of the Pakistan Army interfering in local politics. Talking to media persons here, after chairing a meeting at the Chief Commissioner Office on Monday, he said PMLN and PPP have wasted 20 years of Pakistani nation.
“They polished Ziaul Haq’s boots. They are a product of General Headquarters gate number four. Pakistan Army is a great army and had never indulged in the country’s politics, neither it was nor to be,” said Rashid, adding “It was, is and will remain with democracy.”
He questioned why the leaders of the opposition’s Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) did not take the name of Gen Zia-ul-Haq when they talked about the alleged role of the army in politics.
Responding to a question about the possibility of a grand national dialogue, Rashid said the opposition had been “silent” for two years because they thought “something would come out” but when it did not happen, “they [suddenly] remembered everything.”
“I have not been instructed yet to set up a reception camp for the opposition’s (long march),” Sheikh said adding, “There is a difference between long march and lone march.”
He claimed that the opposition in reality was fighting “more against NAB (National Accountability Bureau) instead of Prime Minister Imran Khan”, adding that the opposition was fighting just to seek relief and waive off their cases.
“Their [opposition] prime purpose is withdrawal of cases against them. I am hopeful that opposition will take part in senate elections and will also review its decision over the matter of resignations,” he said.
“Neither NRO will be given nor NAB be abolished,” sheikh Rasheed stated categorically while talking to the reporters on Monday.
The minister said Zardari had done his Ph.D in criminology; and he knew the hardship faced in jails and avoid it through different tactics.
“There is clear division in Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) now,” he stated.
On the matter of resignations, he predicted that the opposition would eventually “reconsider” them.
“Yesterday they said [Member of the National Assembly] Murtaza Javed Abbasi will give his resignation. You will see [him say] ‘I did not send this.'”
Rashid said all ‘typed or computerized’ resignations had not legal status.
