Karachi: Armed men have attacked PML-N
offices across Sindh province and burnt alive a party leader
two days after the main opposition party staged a major rally
against ruling PPP co-chairman and President Asif Ali Zardari.
PML-N offices were ransacked and set on fire in different
cities and towns of southern Sindh province, a stronghold of
the Pakistan People`s Party, late last night, police said.
The armed attackers fired gun sorts in the air, witnesses
said. No one was hurt in the attacks as all the offices were
closed at the time of the attacks.
No group claimed responsibility for the attacks but PML-N
leaders blamed the ruling PPP and its allies for the
incidents.
In a separate incident, unidentified men poured petrol on
PML-N leader Rana Shaukat and set him alight while he was
sleeping at his home at Changa Manga near Kasur in Punjab
province early this morning.
Shaukat was found with severe burn injuries by his
relatives. He was taken to a nearby hospital, where he
succumbed to his injuries. Shaukat was a relative of Punjab
Assembly Speaker Rana Mohammed Iqbal.
It could not immediately be ascertained if the attack on
Shaukat was linked to the attacks on PML-N offices.
Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik and Sindh`s Home
Minister Manzoor Wasan condemned the attacks on PML-N offices
in the province and ordered an inquiry.
"These things will not be tolerated or allowed and the
culprits will be brought to book. In democracy such intolerant
acts are unacceptable," Malik said.
While raking up such populist issues, Khan criticised
both the ruling Pakistan People`s Party led by President Asif
Ali Zardari and the main opposition PML-N led by former
premier Nawaz Sharif.
"I pledge that no strength, including Zardari or Nawaz
Sharif, can stop this flood. This is not a flood, it is a
tsunami. Anyone standing in its way will be swept away," he
said.
In a reference to his cricketing days, Khan said: "A
terrific in-swinger is on its way, and this will be the first
ball that will remove the wickets of two batsmen at the same
time.”
Khan gave Zardari and all politicians a "few months" to
declare their assets and sources of income. He said his party
would set up a special cell to name and shame politicians who
had millions of dollars stashed away in foreign banks.
Pledging that the Pakistan Army would never be used
against the country`s citizens, Khan said his party would roll
back military operations in the restive northwest and engage
in dialogue, truth and reconciliation to resolve unrest.
He contended that the tribesmen in Pakistan`s northwest
would be able to end terrorism if the country halted military
operations and pulled out of the US-led war on terror.
"Military operations will not lessen extremism and
terrorism or give peace a chance...Drone attacks are driving
people to extremism," he said.
Khan said his party wanted friendship with all countries,
including the US, but would not act as a "slave" for American
dollars.
"We will help the US to leave Afghanistan but we will not
carry out military operations...We will not beg (for aid) from
anyone. We will not beg because there is no respect for
beggars," he added.
Khan further said his party would work for the rights of
women, including a special drive to educate girls, and the
rights of minorities like Christians, Hindus and Sikhs.
PTI
