M. M. ALAM
KARACHI: Former President of Pakistan, Co-Chairman PPPP Asif Ali Zardari, who landed here after an 18-month-long self-exile on Friday (Dec. 23), held that Pakistan was not a country of terrorists.
He predicted that PPPP would be in power again. Pointing out that politicians often leave the country he maintained: “… we will be buried in its soil”.
Following the speech (delivered from a bullet-proof stage perched atop a lorry, he left for Bilawal House on-board a helicopter.
Sources have revealed that Zardari will spend time in Karachi & Nawabshah before returning to Dubai on 30th of this month.
RELEVANT PIECES PUBLISHED EARLIER
“I have every right to return to my home,” says Zardari
KARACHI: Former president Asif Ali Zardari has said that he has every right to return to Pakistan as it’s his home and nobody should have any objection over his return.
Zardari reached Karachi from Dubai today (FridayDecember 23) after one and half years self-exile. He was received by top leadership of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) at Karachi airport.
The PPP leader had left the country in June last year following a hard-hitting speech that criticised the establishment for over-stepping its domain, thereby offending it. Since then, he divided his time between Dubai and London.
President @AAliZardari, begins his journey home.
Zardari announced to end his 1.5 years self-exile and said that he will be returning to Pakistan on Friday. He left for Karachi from Dubai today (December 23) and will land at Karachi airport at 3pm.
Talking to the media outside his house before leaving for airport, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Parliamentarian President said, “I have every right to return. Why are some people ‘not happy’ with that? I will return and look after the party matters.”
PPP Sindh Secretary General Waqar Mehdi said that the new Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa assured Mr. Zardari of full support on his return.
“His phone call to the new army chief paved the way for his homecoming,” he said.
PPP, heading the provincial government in Sindh, is learnt to have made arrangements to hold a public meeting at the Old Terminal where Zardari is scheduled to land today.
The PPP co-chairman will then reach Bilawal House via helicopter. Zardari will be accompanied by PPP Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari.
Rangers in action before Zardari’s arrival: raids three offices of PPP co-chairman’s close aide in Karachi
KARACHI: Rangers on Friday raided offices reportedly owned by close aide of former president Asif Ali Zardari and seized all documents including important files and records, said a statement by the security forces.
The offices, located at I.I. Chundrigar Road, Hockey Stadium and Metropole, belong to the one company.
Omni Group, whose offices have been raided, is owned by Anwar Majeed, who is said to be a close aide of Asif Ali Zardari.
According to reports, admin manager Omni Group Kashif has been arrested from Hockey Stadium.
PM Sharif happy on Zardari’s return, says he enjoys good relations with former president.
SARAJEVO: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has said that he was happy to know about former president Asif Ali Zardari’s return to Pakistan.
“I enjoy good relations with Asif Zardari and his party. I would want those relations to continue,” said PM Sharif while speaking to the media persons on Thursday.
Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP)’s Co-Chairman announced last week that he will return home from abroad on Friday December 23. The party has finalised all arrangements to accord him a warm welcome.
He will be welcomed by PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari at the Karachi airport. The party’s top leadership is all set to address a public gathering on the airport road.
The PPP organising committee has made all arrangements for the occasion. In this regard, a meeting was held with PPP Sindh President Nisar Ahmed Khuhro in the chair. Sindh Assembly Deputy Speaker Shehla Raza, Senator Saeed Ghani, Waqar Mehdi and others attended the meeting where the arrangements to welcome Asif Zardari were reviewed.
The committee finalised the programme for the public gathering and welcome event and later visited the public gathering venue.
Zardari ends 18-month self-exile, will return to Karachi on Fri. Dec. 23
M. M. ALAM
KARACHI: Asif Ali Zardari, who went into self-exile following a speech accusing military for encroaching outside its designated domain, is scheduled to return home on Friday December 23.
This was disclosed by Bilawal Zardari at a presser here on Sunday (December 18). He said that his dad’s doctors had finally allowed him to travel.
One wonders who the doctors are! Has the military-bashing been pardoned? Any drastic change has occurred making the milieu favorable?
WHAT ZARDARI SAID ON 17 JUNE 2015:
1) Army chiefs come and go every three years.
2) Political leadership is here to stay.
3) Politicians know the country better and know how to run its affairs.
4) If the Military establishment does not stop character assassination of political parties “I will come out with a list of accused generals since Pakistan’s Creation”.
5) The establishment should separate itself from politics and avoid interfering in matter out to its domain and not try to create hurdles for politicians.
