Monday, October 3, 2011

Nawaz remarks to harm democracy: Firdous Awan

A spokesperson for the government came down hard on PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif on Monday, describing his statements as harmful to democracy and the country.

Federal Information Minister Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan said that at a time when the country was facing multiple challenges, Mr Sharif was playing up non-issues to divert the nation’s attention from “real issues”.

“It is regrettable that Mian Sahib just after the APC held a press conference and shattered the sense of unity created by APC,” the minister said, recalling this was the second time that he had done so. “Following the last APC held after the (Nov 2008) Mumbai attacks, Mian Sahib issued irresponsible statements related to Ajmal Kasab. This time, too, he has come up with non-issues to divert the attention of the masses.”

Dr Awan, talking to media here at the National Press Club, said it was a “beauty of the democratic system” that political leaders were criticising an elected president.

The minister said the nation had sent out a message of unity to the international community through the APC, but unfortunately a political party was trying to get political advantage from the situation.

“It is not fair for a leader of a major political party like PML-N to criticise the President as he is an elected head of state,” the minister said. “Only in a democracy is it possible that the president surrenders his powers to the Parliament and the federation transfers its powers to the provinces,” Ms Awan observed.

In reply to a question, she said Nawaz Sharif had been making tall claims about achievements of PML-N governments in the past, but media should also highlight the chargesheet against his government after its overthrow in 1999.

“Damaging public property was very unfortunate,” the federal minister said, referring to attacks on government property during the protests against loadshedding on Monday.

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