PDF E-Paper_Layout 1 12/28/2011 2:20 AM Page 1
pakistantoday.com.pk
rs15.00 vol ii no 181 22 pages lahore edition
wednesday, 28 december, 2011 safar 2, 1433
I’m fighting fit: Zardari g g g g g g
President says PPP will fight for democracy, not seats Democracy will take time, sacrifice Wants to make history, not headlines Hails PM as ‘leader of all’ Tells Baloch to learn from his party Asefa will carry forward Benazir’s legacy GARHI KHUDA BAKHSH
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Agencies
RESIDENT Asif Ali Zardari used the fourth anniversary of his wife Benazir Bhutto’s assassination on Tuesday to ensure supporters he would not resign in the face of numerous crises building around him and to take a jab at the Supreme Court. Addressing a huge crowd comprising tens of thousands of supporters at the Bhutto family mausoleum at Garhi Khuda Baksh, the president asked the apex court about the as yet unsolved case of Benazir’s assassination. “People ask what happened to Benazir Bhutto’s case,” he said. “I ask (Chief Justice) Iftikhar Chaudhry: what happened to Benazir Bhutto’s case?” The president said the chief justice took up petitions against the government but was not paying heed to the petition he had sent to him to seeking to revisit the Zulfikar Ali Bhutto case. He said further that some cases were visible to the chief justice, others were not. “The things that are against our prestige are important in your view,” he said. Zardari said the best way to pay tribute to slain former prime minister Benazir Bhutto on the fourth anniversary of her assassination was to foil anti-democratic conspiracies. He vowed to protect the system, disallowing the federation’s split. Continued on page 04
a balanCed address, but replete with messages | page 04 speCial page on benazir’s anniversary | page 02
Benazir’s killers BB killing probe must be brought to justice: Nawaz almost complete: PM Calls PTI ‘king’s party’ g Says govt not to influence probe into ‘memogate’ g All institutions fall under govt
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LARKANA/GARHI KHUDA BUX/ISLAMABAD Agencies/stAff RepoRt
MARDAN Agencies
PPP leader Benazir Bhutto’s assassins must be brought to justice, PML-N President Nawaz Sharif said on Tuesday. Talking to reporters at the house of PML-N Peshawar chapter leader, Saranjam Khan, Nawaz said he was not saying this for point-scoring, but was “really concerned about Benazir’s tragic assassination”. Nawaz said the government had failed in arresting the Benazir’s murderers despite the passage of four years, adding that if the PML-N came into power, it would bring the assassins to book. Earlier, the PML-N announced bringing Benazir’s assassins out in the open and issued a 15point questionnaire regarding her killing. In the questionnaire, the PML-N asked if the president and the interior minister knew about Benazir’s murderers, why were they not making their names public? It was also asked why were the names of the investigation team not revealed and why, the people designated for Benazir’s security and leaders who attended the rally, were not questioned. The PML-N also asked why the investigations of the government had produced no result in the four years since the PPP leader’s assassination. On the memo scandal, Nawaz said it was sub-judice, adding that all those involved in the scandal must be exposed and action should be taken against them.
Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on Tuesday said the investigation into the killing of Benazir Bhutto was almost complete and the Pakistan People’s Party’s central executive committee would decide whether to disclose some portions of the inquiry. Talking to reporters after offering prayers at Beanzir’s mausoleum in Naudero, Gilani said the PPP was a visionary party and pursuing the politics of reconciliation in accordance with Benzir’s vision. Gilani said that the constitution was created by Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and eventually restored by his party (PPP). The prime minister added that he had dispelled the rumours regarding the removal of General Kayani and Lt Gen Ahmad Shuja Pasha. Commenting on the PTI’s popularity, he said people with no vision were uniting under the umbrella of “king’s party”. The prime minister said the PPP was a big party and had the courage to fight conspiracies being hatched against it. To a query, the PM said there would be no confrontation between the state’s institutions if they worked within the limits defined by the constitution. He said a conspiracy had been hatched to pit the government against the judiciary, but the PPP was “big enough” to face any conspiracy. Gilani said the government did not want to affect the investigations into the memo case. To a question regarding the “memogate”, Gilani said, “I am the premier, not a judge. The court will
uncover the matter.” He said the PPP was the name of an ideology, adding that “we are committed to the people regardless of the any political season”. Expressing resolve that government wanted to take all parties along, he said efforts were made in every era to pit institutions against each other. “We are working to bring all institutions under the constitution, as deviation from the constitution will lead to clash,” Gilani said, adding that the government did not want to enter into any battle. Gilani also said that the parliament was supreme and would take decision on all issues of national importance, adding that the supremacy of parliament would be ensured. The prime minister said only the “weak-hearted” had left the PPP, “and it is good, as such people could damage the party at the time of election”. Talking to reporters in Islamabad later, the prime minister said an inquiry was underway into the memo-related London visit of ISI director general (DG). Asked whether the ISI DG had visited London with the permission regarding the memo investigations, Gilani said, “General Pasha went to Doha after informing me, but an inquiry is being made into the London visit,” he said. Gilani said future relationship with NATO, ISAF and the US would be decided by parliament. He clarified that he had never said that the government did not respect state institutions. Continued on page 04
hashmi asks pm to hold early polls | page 03