In a rejoinder to the former president Asif Ali Zardari's recent statement, former prime minister Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday inquired whether the former president was so innocent that he had fallen prey to his propaganda. "Asif Zardari's recent statement does not befit a head of a national party," Nawaz said. "I do not want to engage in a war of words with him." However, he said he (Nawaz) became part of the Pakistan People's Party-led federal government on the promise of restoration of judges and abrogation of the 17th Constitutional Amendment.
Referring to Asif Ali Zardari's 2015 statement, Nawaz asserted that he had expressed exasperation over reckless statement and cancelled the scheduled meeting with him. He stated that Zardari wanted to put his weight behind rogue elements instead of masses. Nawaz said: "The era of politics which Asif Ali Zardari is currently practicing has expired long time ago. At present, masses desire to restore sanctity of vote. Zardari's party has contracted to interior Sindh only."
It may be added that Asif Zardari had claimed on Monday that Nawaz had taken every opportunity to discredit him by making him fight with the establishment while he himself extended a hand of friendship towards them. Nawaz claimed that he sent a message disliking Zardari's remarks during his 'anti-establishment' speech in 2015. He added that he then cancelled a planned meeting with Zardari the next day.
Nawaz advised the PPP leader not to distort history and avoid mudslinging. He wondered why Zardari didn't make public his claim that he [Nawaz] advised him to make the remarks. "Why Zardari is now speaking the 'truth' after the passage of three years," he asked, asserting that being opposed to former president General Pervez Musharraf (r) shouldn't translate into being against an institution. Zardari should remember he came to meet him in Raiwind along with a national political figure, recalled Nawaz.
Nawaz claimed he rejected Zardari's proposal to condone Musharraf's action by an act of Parliament, adding that Zardari is aware that he has nothing to do with the NAB action against Dr Asim Hussain and other Sindh government members. "Zardari said he was acting on my directives. Now he should tell the nation whose puppet he is now," said Nawaz. He advised Zardari to read the writing on the wall and focus on the upcoming elections and refrain from mudslinging.