PML-N says no malice behind Zardari's 'Nawaz-Kargil' link remark

Islamabad, July 7 : The PML-N has said that PPP Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari's statement on Saturday blaming former premier (and PML-N leader) Nawaz Sharif, along with President Pervez Musharraf, for the Kargil war was not based on malice. PML-N is currently an outside supporter of the PPP-led federal government.

PML-N spokesman Sadiqul Farooq said that PPP co-chairman's remarks actually lay stress for the need to establish a commission, like one set up by India, to investigate who was responsible for the Kargil operation.

Demanding the formation of a commission in light of Zardari's comments, Farooq said that India had already completed its investigation of the Kargil war, and that it was unfortunate that Pakistan had not done the same.

Setting up of a commission would help ensure that those who were involved in damaging Pakistan would be held accountable for their actions, the Daily Times quoted Farooq as saying.

Meanwhile, a statement released by Zardari House Press Office said that his comments about the Kargil operation had been taken out of context and that he had made no negative remarks against any leader of the democratic coalition (read Nawaz Sharif).

"Such distortions of comments are aimed at sabotaging the democratic process in the country and to sow misunderstandings between coalition partners and the people know the motives behind such distortions," the paper quoted the statement as saying.

"Senator Asif Zardari has described Mian Nawaz Sharif as his elder brother and has the highest regard for him. The PPP co-chairman has been pursuing an agenda of national reconciliation and would not use negative comments against anyone while struggling to unite the nation," the press release concluded.

A Zardari House spokesman said that most of the people knew who was responsible for the Kargil episode, and that not much was left in this regard as a subject of speculation. In these circumstances a statement coming from the PPP co-chairman against the party's ally is outside the realm of possibility, the spokesman added.

ANI