Sharif says demanding a consensus on Musharraf case equal to defending him

Lahore, Aug.10 (ANI): Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif has criticized the PPP-led federal government for insisting on a consensus prior to registering a high treason case against former president Pervez Musharraf.

He said that this demand amounted to defending the former dictator's actions. He also said that no parliamentary resolution was required to pursue a person for an act of treason against the state.

Addressing overseas Pakistanis in Dubai, the Daily Times quoted Sharif, as saying that it was unfortunate that the government has not initiated steps to remove dictatorship from the country.

"We want a continuation of the democratic system after nine years of dictatorship," he said.

Sharif said his party wanted the present government to complete its constitutional tenure, but added that the PML-N would gauge its support to the PPP government on the basis of the reforms it undertakes.

He urged the government to accord priority to solving the problems of the masses and demanded that the grievances of the Baloch people be addressed quickly.

He said the government should constitute a judicial commission to investigate the killing of former Balochistan governor Nawab Akbar Bugti.

The PML-N chief said his party was not interested in sitting on unproductive committees, adding the government should halt its policy of over-complicating the issues facing the nation. Meanwhile, an MNA of the PML-Quaid, Marvi Memon, has said her party did not want to pursue a case of high treason against Musharraf because it believed in looking to the future, not reopening past transgressions.

She said the government should be focusing on the important issues facing the masses, such as the power shortage, and not on digging up issues such as the sedition case against Musharraf. (ANI)