Islamabad: A political storm appeared to
be brewing in Pakistan on Monday with Asif Ali Zardari's ally MQM
asking him to quit over a controversial law that allowed the
President to return home in 2007 by scrapping graft cases and
PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif threatening to challenge the
legislation in court.
In a day of fast-paced developments, MQM's London-
based chief Altaf Hussain said Zardari should be "prepared to
make major sacrifices" to save Pakistan's democratic system.
His remarks came hours before parliament was to take
up the issue of endorsing the National Reconciliation
Ordinance, a law passed by former military ruler Pervez
Musharraf to grant immunity to former Premier Benazir Bhutto
and Zardari in graft cases.
Senior Muttahida Qaumi Movement leader Mohammad Anwar
told reporters that Hussain had sent a message to Zardari
through a minister of the ruling Pakistan People's Party,
advising that he should resign to save the democratic system.
There is a danger of democracy being derailed if
Zardari did not act swiftly, Anwar said.
"If he (Zardari) reads the writing on the wall, he
should realise he is under immense pressure," said Anwar.
The MQM believes that supporting the NRO in
parliament would be tantamount to "legitimising corruption".
Shortly after Hussain's views became public, PML-N
chief and former premier Nawaz Sharif told a news conference
that his party would challenge the NRO in court if it is
endorsed by parliament.
Bureau Report
First Published: Monday, November 02, 2009, 18:41