Rao Sikandar supports ‘relief’ to Benazir, Nawaz

LAHORE: A good political environment cannot be created until former prime ministers Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif are “given relief”, said Rao Sikandar Iqbal, the defence minister, on Saturday.

Without clarifying the “relief” to Mr Sharif, Rao Sikandar suggested Ms Bhutto return and face the cases against her.

He said that President Pervez Musharraf wanted to create a harmonious political environment in the country. Talking to reporters after a reception he hosted for 23 ambassadors to Pakistan at his Mazharabad farmhouse in Okara, the minister said that Mr Sharif and Ms Bhutto were not sent abroad by President Musharraf. He said the Pakistani courts were giving relief to politicians. “Asif Ali Zardari’s release is a good omen,” the minister said, adding that the courts would also release Makhdoom Javed Hashmi soon.

“Benazir should follow Aftab Sherpao and Asif Ali Zardari who faced the cases against them and were released,” he said.

The minister said that the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal was not in a position to continue its anti-government campaign. online

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