Govt orders FIA to avoid arrest of Gillani, report says

Citing sources, the report claimed that the government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has started back-channel diplomacy to repair the working relations with opposition Pakistan People’s Party and as a sign of good faith has stopped the arrest of Yousuf Raza Gillani.

The federal accountability court had recently ordered arrest of Gillani and former federal minister of commerce Amin Fahim in the multi-billion rupee Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP’s) scam.

Former federal information minister and PPP leader Qamar Zaman Kaira in a television show said that Nawaz Sharif is used to not delivering on his word. He said that those who alleged that Pakistan People’s Party have links with terrorists are themselves linked with such company.

Asif Ali Zardari in his statement on Monday said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has reverted to revenge politics of the 1990s, referring to the recent arrests of high-profile PPP members.

First Qasim Zia and Senator Bangash’s son were arrested, which was followed by Dr Asim’s arrest by Rangers. Immediately afterwards, warrants for the arrests of former premier Yousuf Raza Gilani and Makhdoom Amin Fahim were also issued, he said.

He said bureaucrats in Sindh were being harassed by the Federal Investigation Agency and the National Accountability Bureau – pointing out that the chief secretary of Sindh is also currently on bail. He said actions being taken by federal agencies in Sindh were clear violations of the Constitution.

Earlier, MQM claimed it was being targeted in the security operation, now the PPP lamenting about ‘foul play’ in Karachi operation being conducted by Rangers and other security agencies.

The federal government, the Rangers, which leads the operation in Karachi, and the army’s top brass has on numerous occasions denied the allegations and insisted that the security operation in Sindh is without any bias and only criminal elements being targeted.