ISLAMABAD: Inside story of Iftaar Dinner event organised at Zardari House Islamabad here on Friday over invitation of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) co-chairman and former president Asif Ali Zardari to various political leaders.
The Iftaar Dinner event turned into high-level consultation meeting with opposition political parties where overall political scenario and Karachi operation came under discussions.
However, the political parties that have not attended include ruling Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N), Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) which restricted the event into All Parties’ Conference (APC) as per plan of PPP.
Zardari’s invitation has been primarily accepted only by opposition political parties including Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), Awami National Party (ANP) and Pakistan Muslim League Quaid (PML-Q) while Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has also managed time to attend the event despite his early excuse to participate the Iftaar Dinner due to personal busyness.
PPP central leaders Qamar Zaman Kaira and Senator Sherry Rehman while talking to reporters outside Zardari House clarified that Asif Ali Zardari would not take back his statement as ‘he criticised former military dictatorship’ and always praised prominent role of General Raheel Sharif.
Kaira admitted that Sindh government has summoned Rangers in Karachi and the law enforcement agency is working under mandate. He gave new clarification regarding last statement of Asif Ali Zardari by saying that he ‘criticised former military dictator’. He added that PPP wanted to bring all institution under jurisdiction of law while nobody in the meeting asked Zardari to take back his statement. He said that the meeting participants unanimously welcomed role of Pakistani military in war against terrorism.
Sherry Rehman said that PPP is supportive for betterment of civil-military relationship in Pakistan and willing for early implementation of the National Action Plan (NAP). She said that PPP has given many sacrifices to save democracy in the country.
PM House sources said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was not invited in the Iftaar Dinner event organised by former president and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari while they they were unaware regarding invitations given in person.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) leadership also excused to attend the occassion due to busy schedules.
During the Iftar Dinner event, PML-Q chief Chaudhry Shujaat advised Zardari to take back his statement containing rigid criticism against Pakistani troops and military leadership.
Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) expressed their concerns over ongoing Karachi Operation in the metropolis and urged PPP to play active role via Sindh government to remove the reservations.
