Sindh presses Zardari for Musharraf trial

ISLAMABAD: The Sindh cabinet and PPP MPs unanimously asked Asif Ali Zardari on Monday not to give safe exit to President Pervez Musharraf, and try him for his alleged involvement in the assassination of Benazir Bhutto.

Sources said as a besieged Musharraf was desperately trying to show defiance in the face of his impeachment, pressure within the party was mounting on Zardari to put Musharraf on trial.

These sources said no one should wonder if the long charge-sheet to be tabled before a joint session of parliament also contains the stunning charge that he had collaborated with the assassins of Benazir Bhutto.

The Sindh cabinet and MPs, who met Asif Ali Zardari here to discuss the future strategy, also strongly argued that he had committed a blunder by announcing at Naudero on Dec 31 to make Amin Fahim prime minister of Pakistan.

This single mistake, according to his understanding, had given a chance to the media and politicians to criticise him by accusing him of making false promises. Zardari conceded that he should have been cautious in his comments at his first press conference. Zardari was of the view that he should have waited for the outcome of the general polls before going public about who would be the prime minister of Pakistan.

Meanwhile, Asif Zardari has sent Law Minister Farooq Naik to meet the MQM leadership in Karachi and convince them to back the impeachment motion, as they were a coalition partner in Sindh.

Sources said even if the MQM did not want to be part of the proceedings against Musharraf they would be requested to stay neutral and not publicly defend a besieged Musharraf. However, sources said the PPP leadership was still in favour of giving a safe passage to Musharraf, as they were not in a mood to put state institutions in a state of confrontation.

PPP leaders were still hopeful about some dramatic changes in the mindset of President Musharraf who might offer to resign. In this case the PPP government was not in a mood to put Musharraf on trial for his alleged wrongdoings.

Sources said Zardari did not show any reaction as he kept on listening to the views of his party men who were quite charged and in an angry mood when the issue of impeachment of Musharraf and safe exit was discussed.

Speaking to MPs, Zardari touched on recent statements of Makhdoom Amin Fahim in which he had openly declared that he would become part of the impeachment drive.Zardari said the biggest mistake he had committed in the recent months was to announce nomination of Amin Fahim as future prime minister of Pakistan. Zardari said the media was criticising Yousuf Raza Gilani but had there been Amin Fahim, he might have performed even poorly during his visit to the US.

Source : By Rauf Klasra-The News