Zardari will remain President till 2013: Awan

LAHORE: Former law minister Senator Babar Awan on Friday claimed that people had elected Pakistan People’s Party Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari as President, who will continue complete his five-year tenure as head of the State will till September 2013.

Pakistan People’s Party’s central leader Babar Awan avoided answering question regarding a date for return of the President Asif Ali Zardari to country from Dubai, where he has undergone treatment.

Talking to newsmen along with PPP leader Raja Riaz in Lahore, former law minister blamed that rope was being tightened around the neck of an elected Parliament. “We are not afraid.

We will neither move an inch beyond the Constitution nor move an inch backward,” he replied to questions about the controversial Memo-gate issue.

He refused to comment on the controversial Memo-gate issue, saying the matter was subjudice before the law of law. However, he strongly criticized the PML-N leadership for its stance on the Memogate issue. “The nation is being scattered at a time when it needs unity.

The power does not matter, but sovereignty and solemnity of the country comes first. He said the rope was being tightened around the neck of the Parliament.

“Mian Nawaz Sharif only likes the Parliaments of his own party’s government. Likewise, he like the Punjab Parliament (Assembly) of the government of his brother (Mian Shahbaz Sharif) who himself does not go there,” Babar Awan alleged.

Former law minister vowed that all the attacks being made on the Parliament would be foiled with the power of public. Musharraf’s hands were strengthened by those, who signed agreement and fled the country after tendering apology.

Some people are issuing Fatwas of judicial murders and some are talking about arrests. No pack-up, but package is offered. If go, all will go (out of the power) together,” he declared.

He said his party had been criticized more than any other party. PPP had always rendered sacrifices for the sake of democracy and would do the same even now. Our party is a convoy of martyrs, which was first led by Shaheed ZA Bhutto and then Shaheed Benazir Bhutto.

Some 175 PPP workers rendered their lives for the on single day on October 8, 2007, he added.

PPP leader claimed that thing were normal all over the country, including Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir, but only at one place, the remnants of Zia are not happy.

He stated Mian Nawaz Sharif did not wish to go to the Parliament; therefore, they should not look for back doors to come into power.

Copyright PPI (Pakistan Press International), 2011