WEDNESDAY JUNE 17: Massive corruption, land-grabbing, etc, in Sindh: piqued by criticism, Zardari flays military establishment

ISLAMABAD: Former President and Pakistan People's Party (PPP) co-chairman bitterly attacked the military establishment. The former president made a scathing attack - clearly and obliquely - on army, intelligence agencies and paramilitary forces while addressing an oath-taking ceremony of PPP's Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) chapter office-bearers here on Tuesday.
The PPP Co-Chairman said, "when the PPP will take a stand then not only Sindh, everything from FATA to Karachi will be blocked. It will remain blocked till I order the removal of blockade. Stop our character assassination; if we start this exercise all the generals since the creation of Pakistan will not be spared. I do not want to weaken our institutions. We know how many cases are in courts in which your close allies are accused. When I will address a press conference with a list of such cases in hand you will stand nowhere. Nowadays you are getting weaker; but we want to stand shoulder to shoulder with you."
An enraged Zardari continued, "We know what is the value of a country. We understand what is a state. We made sacrifices and army is our institution. You will remain there for three years and then leave but we will remain forever. Don't disturb us; if you try, we will shatter the defences to pieces. We also said that Pakistan Khappy [not be disintegrated] at the time of martyrdom of Bibi [Benazir Bhutto]. But there is a limit of everything. You make game of everything. Your pets as parrots and 'pahatty' are making a lot of noise. You should not be involved in such types of things which are not linked with you."
He said, "the people ask me what you gave in return of Bibi's Shahadat, I say I give the 18th constitutional amendment. If provinces do not get their rights even after its passage then what is the benefit of that amendment? We will fight for our rights. If you are scared of war, then we know how the war is fought. Don't underestimate us; Don't think we cannot fight," Zardari said.
"At this point in time, on one hand India is threatening you on the boundary while on the other banned organisations in hands of RAW are also intimidating you. There is also RAW's hand behind some Baloch organisations in Balochistan. We don't want to weaken you; be careful, be careful. After this I will present a whole list," he said.
"We want to make it clear to our friends: don't challenge our courage. Be attentive, be attentive, when the PPP stood up, not only the roads of Sindh but all roads from Karachi to FATA will be blocked," he said.
Asif Zardari said that "everything shakes when PPP moves". He said that mid-term elections would have become a reality had PPP decided to resign along with the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI).
He said, "political actors who have become billionaires want to change politics but when we move then we will change politics." Criticising the Gilgit-Baltistan elections, he said, those who become commissioner and governor of the area "hold" elections. Commenting on former military ruler General Pervez Musharraf (Retd), Zardari said the former president, who claims that he still acts like a commando, cannot even spend three months in a Pakistani jail while he remained in jail for 11 years. "Musharraf does not know how many threats Pakistan is facing currently, but I do," he remarked.
"Some people are thinking of indulging in power politics again but we are weighing all options. Let those govern who have been given power," said Zardari. "We want to strengthen democracy in the country and I am not in hurry. I can wait as I have a lot of patience," he added. Addressing military establishment, he said that they never sacrificed for democracy and they never drank hot and muddied water of jails. "I know the importance of democracy as I have attended 400 funerals of near and dear ones.
Zardari said that the writ of Supreme Court to be established up to FATA. There is no difference in our and FATA people's blood," he said. "Those alleging that the PPP is a party of wrongdoers. They are well aware of the people upon whose orders banned outfits operate", he said.
"We are watching the political game, political moves and waiting for the right time to arrive... let those play whom we provided a bat and ball," said the former president. "Let them put the economy back on track... it will be good if they succeed, but if they don't then those provoking us must understand that if I stand up then not only Sindh but every town from Khyber to Karachi would be shut," he warned.