Hollowness of accountability exposed: PPP
Dawn Report

ISLAMABAD, Dec 10: A spokesman for the Pakistan People's Party has said the release of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif has exposed the hollowness of the accountability being carried out by the military government.

"It is now clear that accountability has nothing to do with bringing an end to corruption in society but it is aimed at achieving political ends by fair or foul means by certain elements," the spokesman said while reacting to a deal struck between the military government and Mr Sharif.

"It's now time the regime repealed the accountability process, released all political prisoners and held elections. The power game that began in 1996 has led to collapse of society and impoverishment of the people."

The spokesman demanded immediate release of all PPP prisoners, saying it was a sheer hypocrisy and duplicity to keep some people imprisoned while at the same time allow others to leave the country.

He said the PPP was disappointed that on the one hand the PML chose to overtly pursue a campaign for restoration of democracy and on the other it held secret negotiations with the regime to seek an escape route.

The spokesman said Senator Asif Ali Zardari had been granted bail on medical grounds by several courts but he was still in prison whereas Nawaz Sharif had been freed on health grounds.

"This makes a mockery of the entire justice system," the spokesman said. "It shows selectivity and bias in the treatment of selective politicians, and such actions can only deepen the sense of alienation among the smaller provinces."

The spokesman asked the government to take the people into confidence about the manner in which the deal leading to the release of the former premier was struck.

IMRAN KHAN: Imran Khan, Chairman, Pakistan Tehreek-i- Insaaf, has said that the exile of Nawaz Sharif along with the entire Sharif family is the culmination of a sad chapter in our politics.

Reacting to the unceremonious exit of the former prime minister, Mr Khan said that the chapter that began with the introduction of politics of money and patronage by the Sharif family to amass wealth by hook or by crook had now closed.

The "humiliating exit" Nawaz Sharif had proved that his political philosophy was only to enrich himself and his family and now that he had run out of political options, he struck a deal with the government to save the wealth accumulated abroad, the PTI chief said.

"Mr Sharif now joins an infamous list of "despots", including Ms Bhutto, who have sought refuge abroad," he said. The PTI chief said that the development marked an end to an era of politics of corruption and deception. "Mr Sharif's exit has vindicated the PTI's claim that the Nawaz-Benazir alliance under the name of ARD was only to blackmail the military government and to save themselves from the accountability process.

"It appears that Ms Bhutto is not far away from also striking a deal with the military government in return for the release of her husband," Mr Khan said, adding that these politicians only wanted to maintain the status quo and had no interest for the welfare of the poor and development and progress of the country.

JAMAAT-I-ISLAMI: The NWFP chapter of Jamaat-i-Islami, while condemning the pardoning to Mr Sharif, has demanded immediate return of the army to barracks and handing over power to an interim setup.

A meeting of the party office-bearers, presided over by the provincial chief, Prof Mohammad Ibrahim, called for free, fair and impartial elections and handing over power to the elected representatives of the people.

PAT: Reacting on the exile of former premier Nawaz Sharif, Pakistan Awami Tehrik chairman Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri said it has marked the end of Mr Sharif's political carrier and he would never be allowed to return home from Saudi Arabia.

In a statement issued here on Sunday, the PAT chief said the looted money of the nation should be confiscated from other corrupt politicians and bureaucrats as well.

TNFJ: The chief of Tehrik Nifaz Fiqh-i-Jafariya Pakistan, Agha Syed Hamid Ali Shah Moosavi, has said that there is no justification of keeping any politician in jail after granting clemency to Mr Sharif.

He was speaking at a workers' meeting of his party here on Sunday.

He said pardoning of Mr Sharif has proved that there exists no law in the country and the rulers were free to send any criminal to gallows or set them free.

AL AKHAWAN: The head of the Tanzeem Al Akhawan, Amir Mohammad Akram, has described the government's decision of sending deposed prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his family members to Saudi Arabia as a hasty one.

He said as its next step, the government would send Asif Zardari abroad within the next few days.
( Dawn, Dec 11, 2000 )