APDM warns Asif of exposing his corruption
By Bakhtawar Mian
ISLAMABAD, June 18: The All Parties Democratic Movement has warned PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari of exposing what it called his corruption of billions of rupees if he failed to restore judiciary to its pre-emergency status.
The warning came as APDM leaders met here on Wednesday on the first day of a two-day meeting at the residence of Jamaat-i-Islami leader Mian Aslam.
They called for restoration of judiciary, release of the missing people, release of Dr Qadeer Khan, inquiry into the May 12 incident in Karachi, killing of Nawab Akbar Bugti and restoration of the Constitution to its pre-Oct 12, 1999, position.
More than 100 leaders of component parties attended the meeting.
APDM convener Mehmmod Khan Achakzai said that the country was in the grip of several crises and appealed to the nation to unite to steer the country out of this grave situation.He said there was a consensus in the APDM on a four-point agenda: an end to army interference in politics, restoration of the Constitution, polls under an independent election commission and restoration of judiciary.
Mr Achakzai criticised US presence in the country and sought an end to military operation in Fata and Balochistan.
Jamat-i-Islami chief Qazi Hussain Ahmad said the army should play its role in accordance with the Constitution.
He said Pakistan was an ideological state and if the ideology was properly adhered to, there would be provincial autonomy, a free judiciary and rights of minorities would be ensured.
He demanded restoration of the Constitution to its pre-Oct 12, 1999, position, regretting that the parliamentary system had been turned into a presidential form of government.
The Jamaat chief said the United States had become a world terrorist and it considered interference in other countries affairs as its right. He said the American adventurism had endangered peace and criticised the government for what he called playing into the hands of the US.
He demanded provincial rights and royalty on gas and electricity, adding that there should be a fair distribution of water among provinces. He said lack of justice and equality had endangered the security of the country. He said the Nov 3 PCO should be declared illegal through an executive order.
Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaaf chief Imran Khan said the prevailing situation had proved that the election boycott was a correct decision. Justifying the boycott, he said it was done in accordance with a resolution passed by the Pakistan Bar Council.
He said prevailing crisis could have been averted if Justice Iftikhar Mohmmad Chaudhary was reinstated and President Pervez Musharaf impeached. He said Mr Nawaz Sharif and Ms Benazir Bhutto came to Pakistan only because of lawyers movement, but the political leadership had badly disappointed the nation.
He praised the long march of lawyers and said the movement for restoration of judiciary was a movement of every Pakistani. He said the constitutional package presented by the PPP was just a drama.
He also criticised the budget, saying it was no different from the budget of Shaukat Aziz.
He said a new GHQ was being built in Islamabad at a cost of Rs900 billion, but the current parliament was silent on such an important issue.
APDM warns Asif of exposing his corruption -DAWN - Top Stories; June 19, 2008
