The ruling Pakistan People's Party (PPP) on Sunday lashed out at Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leadership for allegedly misleading the nation by asking them to revolt against its government.
In a prompt reaction to the Saturday's address to a public meeting by PML-N's chief Nawaz Sharif, Minister for Information Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan while addressing a press conference along with PPP's secretary information Qamar Zaman Kaira and former Law Minister Babar Awan, asked PML-N chief to avoid politics of confrontation.
Firdous told the press conference, which was apparently held to respond to PML-N chief's remarks against the government, that the government would set up an independent commission to probe Abbottabad incident after consultations with all political parties and stakeholders.
She said the government would own the unanimous resolution. However, she made it clear that the commission would not be set up on any one's dictation.
She said that leader of the opposition in the National Assembly Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan had proposed some names for the commission but there were also some other stakeholders of the resolution, with whom the prime minister had started consultations for evolving consensus.
She said that the government was trying to find a suitable person having an international repute, unblemished past who is acceptable to all the parties and the people to head the commission.
To a question, she said that the lead information was provided by Pakistani agencies that led to the operation against Osama bin Laden.
Regarding Nawaz Sharif's statement, she said that the PPP was not afraid of such statements. However, she added, politics of confrontation and personal vendetta is not in the interest of the country. Responding to PML-N's chief allegations against Makhdoom Amin Fahim, she said the matter was sub judice and advised Nawaz Sharif to file a petition in the Supreme Court instead of levelling allegations.
About the US drone attacks, she said that the president and the prime minister had conveyed their concerns to US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton during her visit to Pakistan. She added that Clinton was conveyed that drone attacks were not acceptable. About the formation of Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), the Minister said that a committee had been constituted in this regard, which started consultations. She, however, added that the government was waiting for the names to be nominated by the opposition parties for the purpose.
To another question, the minister said that the restoration of magistracy system was the only solution to control the price hike in the country, which was abolished by the previous government.
Referring to the forthcoming budget, she said the government was fully aware of the problems being faced by the people and it would take measures to give relief to the masses.
Speaking on the occasion, Qamar Zaman Kaira said that PPP believed in politics of reconciliation, as confrontation was not in the interest of the country. "PPP has always supported the reconciliation process by following the Charter of Democracy (CoD) for strengthening democracy," he added.
He said that the path of confrontation adopted by PML-N was not in the interest of democracy and the country, adding that the politics of hatred and confrontation will damage the interest of the country.
Kaira asked Punjab government to provide details of spending of additional Rs300 billion, which was given to it under the NFC Award.
To a question, he said that the allegations that the government was delaying formation of ECP was unfounded, saying that PML-N has not yet responded to the letter sent by the government regarding the matter.
Babar Awan advised PML-N to show political maturity as the country was passing through difficult times, adding "Nawaz Sharif should not adopt a' non-serious' attitude and avoid misleading the nation asking for revolt against the government".
He also asked Nawaz Sharif to elaborate as to what kind of revolt he was demanding from the people, adding that whether it should be against the parliament, constitution, democracy or law and order. He said the PML-N chief preferred to leave the country instead of confronting the dictator after his government was overthrown by Musharraf in 1999, adding that why he (Nawaz Sharif) did not give call for revolt against the dictator?
"PPP has always done politics of federation and reconciliation while Nawaz Sharif is doing politics of 'division and separation," he alleged.
He accused PML-N of impeding the formation of the ECP, adding that the government has formed a constitutional committee headed by Syed Khursheed Shah.