Tehran Times : Bush’s war on terror leaves Pakistan drowned in blood: Sharif

Bush’s war on terror leaves Pakistan drowned in blood: Sharif

January 15, 2008

ISLAMABAD (The News) -- Former prime minister and head of Pakistan Muslim League-N Nawaz Sharif on Monday accused President Musharraf of blindly following Washington and ordering anti-terror operations that have left the country “drowned in blood”.

Addressing an election rally of about 3,000 people on the outskirts of the capital, Islamabad, Sharif said: “Musharraf has destroyed Pakistan. He is blindly following America’s orders. The whole of Pakistan is drowned in blood.”

Sharif reiterated his demand for Musharraf to stand down and for a government of national unity to take power and oversee the February 18 parliamentary elections. Opposition parties say the current caretaker administration is biased and the elections will be rigged in favor of the pro-Musharraf ruling party -- Pakistan Muslim League-Q.

The opposition leader stated that the Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) would, however, not accept a national unity government headed by President Pervez Musharraf. “I have never accepted Pervez Musharraf as president,” Sharif said.

The PML-N leader condemned what he called “provocative” statements against him and the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) by former Punjab chief minister and leader of Q-League Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi.

Sharif’s speech was his first major campaign event since the December 27 assassination of Benazir Bhutto. It was one of his harshest attacks on Musharraf over his alliance with Washington.

Sharif said the government during last several years had disappointed the masses who were facing flour, gas and power crises.

He said the government was responsible for the crushing hike in prices of foodstuff as flour was selling now at 25 rupees ($.40) per kilogram which 7 rupees ($.11) during his second tenure. The PML-N leader urged the people not to vote for a party which was responsible for Red Mosque raid and operations in the tribal areas.

The masses should vote for the PML-N candidates in order to bring a change in the country, he said. Earlier, Nawaz Sharif was warmly welcomed by party leaders and workers when he arrived at Bara Kahu, near Islamabad, from Murree. -