Lahore: Former premier Nawaz Sharif on Sunday criticised the Pakistan government`s handling of crucial issues like the US raid against Osama bin Laden and a secret memo purportedly seeking American help to prevent a military takeover, saying the ruling party was compromising the country`s defence and dignity.
Addressing a gathering of tens of thousands of workers of his PML-N party at Faisalabad, about 130-km from Lahore, Sharif slammed the ruling Pakistan People`s Party (PPP) for compromising the country`s defence and dignity. He also attacked cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf party, which has been garnering support across Punjab province.

"There is an attack on Abbottabad and they were all shaking in their boots," Sharif said, referring to the US military raid that killed al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden in the northern garrison town. Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani described the covert operation as a "great victory" while President Asif Ali Zardari wrote articles in American newspapers lauding it, he said.

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In a reference to the "Memogate" controversy that has shaken up the country`s political and diplomatic circles, Sharif claimed Pakistani envoy Husain Haqqani had written a memorandum to former US military chief Mike Mullen, seeking help to rein in the Pakistani military.

"Zardari`s envoy is asking the US to control the Pakistani military when we should resolve our own problems," he said, as his supporters shouted slogans like "Go Zardari Go".

He demanded that the government should launch a probe into the controversial memo within two days and complete it in nine days, failing which the PML-N would approach the Supreme Court to investigate the matter.
PTI