Lahore: Pakistan`s opposition leader Nawaz
Sharif on Tuesday warned against returning to the politics of
confrontation of the 1990s and said the ruling PPP and PML-N
should respect each other`s mandate instead of engaging in
"mudslinging" that could undermine democracy.
"My party and I are being targeted in the ongoing smear
campaign. It will be very unfortunate if the politics of
confrontation of the 1990s begin again," Sharif said while
chairing a meeting at his residence here to finalise plans for
reorganising the PML-N.
"The PPP and PML-N should respect each other`s mandate
and let democracy succeed," the former premier told a
gathering of senior party leaders.
The PML-N had yesterday given the PPP a 48-hour
ultimatum to stop what it called a "smear" campaign against
Sharif or to prepare for a "befitting response".
The two parties have traded angry charges over the past
few days, with the PML-N accusing PPP chief and President Asif
Ali Zardari of running a "cell" within the presidency that is
allegedly spearheading the vilification campaign.
The PPP denied the allegation and asked the PML-N to
back up its accusations with evidence.
During today`s meeting, Sharif assured PML-N leaders
that he would not become part of any conspiracy that could
affect Pakistan`s democratic set-up. He said he had no
intention of indulging in "politics of mudslinging".
Sharif asked the leaders to bring down the political
temperature and not to indulge in unnecessary debates on "dead
issues".
Briefing reporters after the meeting, PML-N spokesman
Ahsan Iqbal said his party did not want any confrontation with
other political forces, including the PPP, in the interest of
democracy.
"The PML is observing restraint though it has lots of
information about the wrongdoings of PPP leaders. We believe
in live and let live. Our leniency should not be considered
our weakness," Iqbal said.
He parried a question on the party`s strategy after its
48-hour ultimatum to the PPP ended.
A meeting of the PML-N`s central working committee has
been convened on September 7 to discuss the reorganisation of
the party.
Sharif is expected to travel across Pakistan to drum up
support for the PML-N as he has been confined to Punjab
province since he returned to the country from exile in 2007.
Bureau Report
