Former President Asif Ali Zardari’s statement on Wednesday has become a mystery as the controversial press release surfaced and then disappeared.
In the media, a statement was linked with ex President Zardari on Tuesday in which Zardari stunned his admirers and critics alike when he termed the decision of Chief of the Army Staff General Raheel Sharif of not taking an extension in service ‘premature’.
Khursheed Shah stated that appointment and retirement of the army chief was a constitutional matter and unnecessary debate over the issue must be stopped. PPP’s Secretary Information Qamar Zaman Kaira stated that an inquiry into the origins of Zardari s controversial statement will be held and the matter will be investigated.
On the one side PPP leaders are denying the statement but some of them also praising COAS and have said that situation in the country demands that army chief should not retire. PPP lawmaker has submitted a resolution in the Punjab Assembly, seeking extension of the service of Army Chief Raheel Sharif.
Democratic parties should themselves practice democratic norms in their parties so contradicting statements could not make the way to media without proper consultation. If PPP and Asif Ali Zardari are denying any statement regarding COAS than media needs to give space only to authentic news or statement. Because PPP offices in Islamabad and Karachi said the statement was not issued by them. PPP leaders have said that only Farhatullah Babar is the official spokesman of Asif Zardari and no one else can issue a statement on behalf of the ex-president.
Political parties should pass statements after authenticity and consultation with their leaders.
