Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leadership seemed confused about the targets of its on-going anti-government drive, as the party leadership is not answering clearly a number of queries in this regard.
PML-N chairman Senator Raja Zafar-ul-Haq while speaking at a news conference along with party's central secretary information Mushahidullah Khan and Iqbal Zafar Jhagra here on Tuesday did not respond a question by a reporter in clear terms whether the party wanted to topple the incumbent government or what are the real targets of its on-going anti-government drive?
The PML-N leader instead of giving a clear-cut response asked the journalist, "Do you want the government be toppled?" The PML-N chairman, however, added "an elected government should not be called a government when the people do not like it to remain in power anymore."
Confusing and contradictory statements by PML-N leadership are evident, as leader of opposition in National Assembly Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan also came up with a similar statement last Saturday saying that target of the PML-N's drive was not President Zardari or removal of the present set up, but against the bad governance, government's failure to resolve masses' problems, its flawed policies, corruption and load shedding.
About the target of the PML-N "Go Zardari Go" campaign, Zafar-ul-Haq said that a 'change' was possible only when the people wanted to do so. He said that every movement culminates in the federal capital and the party's anti-government drive would also be extended to Islamabad when it entered its final stage. About the next general elections, he said that the polls could be held before 2013 if the people wanted so.
He said that the PML-N initially wanted the government to eradicate corruption, overcome load shedding and improve governance but corruption was on the rise and the government seemed indifferent toward masses's problems. To another question about PTI chief Imran Khan's Lahore rally, the PML-N chairman said that it should be acknowledged that he (Imran) organised a good public meeting, adding that it was his constitutional right to organise his party and hold protest rallies.
Earlier, the PML-N leader came hard on PPP holding its responsible for attacks on PML-N offices in Sindh province and also warned the government to stop attacking the party's offices in the province by accepting the responsibility and punishing those involved.
"It would have far-reaching repercussions when the state machinery is involved in attacks on offices of a political party," he warned, condemning the attacks on PML-N offices in strong words. He said that PML-N offices in 12 different areas were set on fire in Sindh.
He termed the attacks a big threat to democracy and added that dictatorship was not all about uniformed general but it was mindset lacking tolerance. He also blasted the government for alleged corruption in state-owned enterprises (SOEs) like Pakistan Railways, PIA, Pakistan Steel Mills and OGDCL saying that a year ago Nawaz Sharif advised Prime Minister Gilani to appoint heads of SOEs. "Unfortunately the Prime Minister backtracked on his promise he made with Nawaz Sharif," he regretted. To a question about attack on PTI office in Lahore, Zafar-ul-Haq said that he would talk to Punjab government to hold inquiry into the incident.