Islamabad, Jun 22 : Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari has accused former premier Nawaz Sharif of trying to pit the ruling Pakistan People's Party against the powerful military but said he would not allow this to happen.
Launching a blistering attack against main opposition PML-N chief, Zardari described him as a ‘moulvi' inspired by the divisive politics of late military ruler Zia-ul-Haq. He also alleged that Sharif had sympathies for militants involved in insurgency across Pakistan as he equated the PML-N chief's mindset with that of Afghan Taliban leader Mullah Omar.
“This moulvi sahib who is opposed to us, his name is Moulvi Nawaz Sharif. I remember the beliefs with which he entered politics. He wants the politics of Moulvi Zai-ul-Haq,” Zardari said, referring to the late dictator who ruled Pakistan in the 1980s.
Zardari accused former premier Sharif of trying to pit the ruling Pakistan People's Party against the powerful military but said he would not allow this to happen. Zardari said Sharif wants him to clash with the military and other political forces but he would not do so.
He contended that Sharif was criticising army generals because they were not backing his bid to come to power. “I see that your beliefs are being defeated because you are the creation of those beliefs which we are fighting against. These beliefs resulted in the death of my wife,” Zardari said, while addressing a large gathering of PPP workers and leaders at Naudero in Sindh province late last night.
The event was organised to mark the 58th birthday anniversary of Zardari's slain wife, former premier Benazir Bhutto. PTI
