KARACHI, 18 November — The opposition Pakistan People’s Party denied yesterday reports about the deal with government, saying that it always believed in principles, and would remain loyal to the philosophy it had propounded. In a statement in Karachi, a party spokesman said that the talks about Asif Zardari, being moved to Karachi to live under house arrest at his Bilawal House residence, or the party begging the military government for another chance, had no basis.
There is no indication about the husband of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto being shifted from Rawalpindi to Karachi. The regime is not likely to soften its stand toward a party, which it knows operates from a popular base.
Similarly, the party never sought concessions from President Pervez Musharraf or anyone else for being rehabilitated to power. It held a firm faith in elections, and asking for elections is not seeking concession or begging for mercy.
Reports stemming from "sources close to Gen. Musharraf" that PPP had sought a "third chance" from the military, was utter non-sense, it said. "Election to govern is not a chance like the throw of a dice in a gambling den all too familiar with dictators staging a coup," said the spokesman, adding that democrats devote their lives to a cause and political principles.
For such a political mission, great sacrifices are given and life is dedicated to public duty. This can be seen in the life of Benazir who faced many hardships including the loss of her loved ones, the statement said. Political leaders sweat and go to the people seeking a mandate in an election, something alien to usurpers and dictators.
The spokesman reiterated that it was the military regime which had invited the PPP to talks which the party accepted to keep the dialogue going. PPP still believes in dialogue. The party had refused the conditions by the military regime that its leader step aside and insisted on assurances for the safe return of Benazir. "That position remains unchanged." The spokesman said that the PPP refused to be bribed into accepting power as desired by some. The party believes that the governments must be formed with the mandate of the people exercised through the ballot in a fair, free and impartial election.
Meanwhile, Zardari has sought permission from a court to allow him to hire a religious scholar to explain to him the teachings of the Qur’an and Prophet Muhammad. Zardari, whose detention under various corruption and abuse of office cases entered the sixth straight year this month, filed the application in the Accountability Court of Rawalpindi, court officials said here yesterday.
"He wants to hire a tutor at his own expenses to understand the teachings of the Qur’an and the holy Prophet during the month of Ramadan," one official said. Judge Mansoor Khan, who heads the accountability court, has issued a notice to the National Accountability Bureau on Zardari’s request and a decision on it is expected in a couple of days.
