Zardari calls for debate on sending Pak troops to Iraq

RAWALPINDI: Former senator Asif Ali Zardari has called for a debate in the parliament on sending military troops to Iraq.

“The current situation in Iraq is very critical and sending troops to Iraq demands a national consensus,” said Mr Zardari while talking to a group of reporters after attending the SGS reference case in the accountability court on Saturday.

The government should present the issue in parliament to discuss the issue, said Mr Zardari. “Sending military troops to Iraq is a very sensitive issue because of reports that foreign troops are under fire in Iraq.”

The situation in Iraq is sensitive and a consensus could be developed in the Parliament for sending troops to Iraq, he said.

“The government is in constant contact with Makhdoom Amin Fahim, but I can’t accept the government’s proposal,” he said. Commenting on the imprisonment of Makhdoom Javed Hashmi, Mr Zardari termed it as “condemnable”.

“Mr Hashmi could not have been indicted because he was a member of the national assembly and the sedition case levelled against him was forged,” Mr Zardari said. “Then Qazi Hussein Ahmed should have been charged for treason because time and again he has levelled charges against General Pervez Musharraf for violating the constitution.”

“Why was he not charged for rebellion?” Mr Zardari questioned, “that is the question that needs profound thought.” Such allegations are a routine matter for political parties and Mr Hashmi just did that, Mr Zardari said, “but the verdict of the court is itself a punishment for the judiciary that it indicted a political leader at the behest of the government.”

“We welcome Shahbaz in our ranks and I am ready to host him in prison,” he said. “I am astonished to hear about the statement aired by various federal ministers about deporting Shahbaz on his return to Pakistan,” he said. “He can’t be deported to Saudi Arabia because he is not a Saudi citizen and he is a Pakistani by decent and can’t be forcefully expelled from the country.”

A possible return of Benazir Bhutto will be decided at a proper time, he said, “she is not afraid of being imprisoned because she has already passed a term of imprisonment in Sukkar jail.” The Pakistan People’s Party Parliamentarians Patriot (PPPP-Patriots) is asking General Pervez Musharraf to keep his uniform, he said, “they are making this demand because a child does not want to become an orphan and whether Mr Musharraf will remain in or will lay off his uniform, it will not make any difference to us.”

“I fear that Wana will become a burning point for Pakistan after the Kashmir issue,” he remarked. —Online

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