PPP warns Musharraf against entering politics

Islamabad, Oct 28: A prominent PPP leader has opposed former Pakistan president Pervez Musharraf's moves to enter into active politics by heading the erstwhile ruling party the - PML-Q, saying that if he tried to re-enter the political arena, he should be ready to face consequences for the crimes he committed during his tenure.

"If Musharraf is thinking to enter politics, he should be ready to face the consequences of the crimes he committed against the people of Pakistan and the constitution. He should also keep in mind the two-year constitutional bar. Any one who would try to bring him (Musharraf) into politics will negate the mandate of people of Pakistan who rejected his policies in February 18 general elections," the Daily Times quoted Rabbani as saying.

Only Monday, Oct 27, a section of the Pakistani press had reported that Musharraf was nursing aspirations of once again jumping into active politics by heading the PML-Q. At a dinner hosted last week, Musharraf had also told his supporters that in case the Choudharys of Gujarat refused to vacate the party's presidency, someone from the party should take up the task of removing them from holding the reins of the party and create a room for him.

Rabbani opposed Musharraf's planned move while reacting strongly to criticism by PML-Q Senator Nisar Memon who accused the government of reneging on the commitments President Asif Zardari had made in his first address to parliament's joint session last month. Memon had criticised the government of making tall claims and not fulfilling its commitments.

Memon's criticism of the government's inaction on formation of committee to do-away contentious clauses of 17th Amendment, empowering parliament, independent foreign policy, political victimisation of opposition members and violation of Pakistan''s air space by US forces infuriated Rabbani who attacked Musharraf's policies.

Rabbani denied accusations his party's government was sponsoring conspiracies against the former ruling party and said that some dejected members within the PML-Q were reportedly persuading the former president to enter politics and lead the party he had once patronised.

ANI