ISLAMABAD: The leader of the combined opposition parties in Pakistan, Mr. Ghulam Mustafa Jatoi, has challenged premier Benazir Bhutto fora television debate or a public meeting to prove allegations of corruption, report PTI.
Both the opposition and Ms. Bhutto’s Pakistan People’s Party have been hurling charges and counter charges of trying to “buy” members of the National Assembly.
Mr. Jatoi said Ms. Bhutto had no moral right to stay in office.” I challenge her for a debate on the television or a public meeting to swear that she did not use money to buy members during the no confidence motion,” he said.
He told reporters in Karachi that three members of the Islamic Jamhoori Ittehad (IT) who had signed the no confidence resolution but had not voted in its favor had been made ministers by Ms. Bhutto.
The opposition leader claimed that he had evidence to prove that the ministers and members of the premier Bhutto’s family were involved in corruption.
“Time is not far off when these ministers and relatives will be dragged in courts for their misdeeds,” he said,
Mr. Jatoi charged that the PPP government was continuing in its efforts to lure more opposition members of the National Assembly to “prolong its rule.”
Meanwhile, the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr. Nawaz Sharif has accused the PPP of giving huge amounts of money to get the three JI members on to their side.
He asked the people to stop these members who had “betrayed” their party from entering their constituencies. Addressing a public meeting in Khanpur, he said the Pakistan People’s Party government was trying to be soft towards New Delhi and bartering national interests.
The Pakistan People would not tolerate foreign domination and attempts to impose Indian hegemony would be effectively foiled, he said.
Article extracted from this publication >> December 1, 1989
