In a recent development, the seasoned PPP leader, Syed Khursheed Ahmed Shah, has proffered sagacious advice to the PML-N, cautioning against their pursuit of punitive measures targeting former army chief Gen (Retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa and retired Lt-Gen Faiz Hamid, the former spymaster. These remarks come against the backdrop of a resolute statement by PML-N’s eminent leader, Nawaz Sharif, who squarely placed the responsibility for his ousting from power in 2017 and the ongoing national turmoil upon these two individuals.
Nawaz Sharif’s statement reverberated with a steely resolve as he unequivocally implicated these officials, stating that “(Former) chief justices Saqib Nisar and Asif Saeed Khosa were tools [of the former army chief and his spy chief]. Their crime is bigger than a murder offence. Giving them pardon will be an injustice to the nation. They don’t deserve pardon,” as he pledged to hold them accountable. In a video address from London earlier this month, he also vowed that those responsible for the economic hardships faced by the people of Pakistan would face the reckoning of justice.
Similarly, PML-N luminary Rana Sanaullah launched a scathing critique against former Generals Bajwa and Hamid, branding them as “national criminals” and fervently demanding legal actions against them. He expressed a resolute commitment to a course of “strict accountability” for these former military figures and judges, characterizing this stance as the party’s official policy.
During an interview on DawnNewsTV’s ‘Doosra Rukh’ program, Khursheed Shah was asked to comment on Nawaz’s fiery statement. In response, he opined that the actualization of PML-N’s pursuit to hold the two former military leaders accountable appeared to be an arduous endeavor. He referenced the case of the late military dictator Musharraf, who faced charges under Article 6 of the Constitution but was later hospitalized and subsequently transferred to Dubai, highlighting the complexities involved in such endeavors. Khursheed Shah extended prudent counsel, urging the PML-N to steer clear of such confrontations, a realm where politicians often find themselves ensnared.
He underscored the urgency of redirecting focus towards ensuring equitable elections, managing the escalating inflation, adhering to the Charter of Democracy, and establishing a culture of good governance. He reiterated the PPP’s ongoing commitment to cooperation and institution-building, emphasizing the paramountcy of parliamentary institutions.
Khursheed Shah also disclosed that the PPP had encountered considerable pressure to align with the erstwhile ruling coalition led by the Pakistan Democratic Movement. Initially, the PPP proposed support for a vote of no confidence against former Prime Minister Imran Khan but without subsequent participation in the government. However, they were informed by the opposition that the no-confidence vote would not proceed unless the PPP joined the government.
Regarding the PPP’s demand for a level playing field in elections from the PML-N, Khursheed Shah pointed out that some individuals associated with Nawaz’s party were part of the incumbent caretaker government, thus motivating this request.
In a striking observation, he suggested that the true prime mover within the government might be the secretary of the Establishment Division, overshadowing the role of caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar. In Khursheed Shah’s assessment, “The one who runs the Establishment Division, he is the prime minister.”
When queried about the perception that the announcement of Kakar’s appointment as interim PM occurred after former PM Shehbaz and former opposition leader Raja Riaz were discreetly handed notes bearing the name of the caretaker premier, Khursheed Shah affirmed the accuracy of this impression.
