Zardari vows 'strong opposition' to any NRO given to his rival
- By Web Desk -
- Dec 27, 2017
LARKANA: Former President and Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP) co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari on Wednesday said, without citing a name, that his party would strongly oppose a National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO), if it took place to protect a political figure.
Addressing a mammoth of crowd at Garhi Khuda Baksh on 10th death anniversary of Benazir, the former president deplored the dual standard of justice in the country while stating: “We spent 12 years in jail and you [Nawaz Sharif] attained freedom after spending 12 days in the jail.”
Referring directly to the ruling party’s gripe, Zardari said they had issues with the PPP for long time. “This time we will not support you, as time and again you have stabbed us in the back,” he asserted.
He said the conspiracies were still being cooked up against the PPP. “I will be cautious in running the party and will do politics for betterment of the masses,” he added.
Paying rich tribute to former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto (BB), Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP) co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari said Benazir was a visionary leader whose legacy would live on generations.
Enumerating the projects that PPP undertook under his presidency, Zardari said the projects were envisioned by BB as the party has been taking on the Bhutto’s vision.
He said BB bravely confronted the forces of darkness and dictatorial regimes and eventually she embraced martyrdom while fighting for rights of the masses.
Concluding his address, the former president said Bilawal Bhutto Zardari is the real leader of nation.
A large number of leaders and workers of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) are attending the PPP public meeting at Garhi Khuda Baksh to visit the last abode of the first Muslim woman elected as Prime Minister to pay respects.
Earlier today, the convoys of the leaders and workers from Punjab and other provinces reached Larkana to attend the death anniversary of their martyred leader.
On Dec 27 in 2007, former prime minister Benazir Bhutto was assassinated soon after she finished an election rally at Liaquat Bagh in garrison city of Rawalpindi. A suicide bomber shot at her and then blew himself up in a gun and bomb attack on the fateful day.
Ten years down the road, the prime suspects behind her assassination have not been brought to book yet. Of late, an anti-terrorism court acquitted five suspects and awarded imprisonment of 17 years to two police officers – Saud Aziz and Khurram Shahzad – in the assassination of the slain PPP leader.
Later, a division bench of the Lahore High Court suspended the conviction of the two officers and released them on bail against a surety of Rs one million each.
Former military dictator Pervaiz Musharraf, who PPP alleged was behind her assassination, was declared fugitive by the court in the case.
Benazir Bhutto, the daughter of Pakistan’s first democratically elected premier Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, entered in politics after the elected government of her father was removed in a military coup in July 1977 and was hanged on April 4, 1979 by the regime of General Zia-ul Haq after sham court trial. After untiring and arduous struggle as well as sacrifices, she became prime minister twice in the 1990s, but her governments were dissolved before completing mandated tenure.