Apna Tv

‘If any death takes place a FIR will be registered against those who have already provoked people to rise in revolt against the government,’ Mr Malik told a press conference.

The government on Monday stuck to its previous stance that it will not allow participants of lawyers’ long march from proceeding to the parliament house.

The blame game started by the leaders of the ruling Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and N-league has escalated tension in the political arena, and fresh statements from Nawaz and Shahbaz Sharif and the Interior Adviser seem to indicate that the two sides have reached the point of no return, and that all reconciliation efforts made by PPP coalition partners have failed.

Analysts believed that the prevailing political turmoil in the country will be further aggravated when the long march will reach Islamabad on March 16, and it will not be allowed to enter into the federal capital. They foresee clashes between the security forces and the protestors, which may turn violent.

The adviser termed the recent statements of PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif an attempt of revolt and said under Article 124-A of Pakistan Penal Code (PPC), a law concerning sedition, a case could be registered against Sharif brothers if the law and order situation spins out of control and any casualties take place during the lawyers’ protest. The maximum punishment under this law is three years imprisonment.

Responding to a question, Malik flared up saying Nawaz Sharif had used abusive language against President Asif Ali Zardai. ‘We can reply Mr Sharif in a worse manner but we refrain ourselves from indulging in the politics of calling name,’ the adviser said.

He quoted two recent statements of Nawaz Sharif as saying: ‘I order the people not to obey the government and wage Jihad against it.’ ‘I have raised Alm-i-Baghawat and urge you (people) to join me in the long march.’

Mr Malik showed representatives of the media the constitution and read Article 124-A, saying Nawaz Sharif was liable to be booked under this law. The suggests life time imprisonment and penalty for disseminating hate, provocation for revolt and creating unrest against the Federal and provincial governments.

The adviser read the law as saying:

‘Whoever by words, either spoken or written, or by signs, or by visible representation, or otherwise, brings or attempts to bring into hatred or contempt, or excites or attempts to excite disaffection towards, the Federal or Provincial Government established by law shall be punished with imprisonment for life to which fine may be added, or with imprisonment which may extend to three years, to which fine may be added, or with fine.

(Explanation 1): The expression ‘disaffection’ includes disloyalty and all feelings of enmity.

(Explanation 2): Comments expressing disapprobation of the measures of the Government with a view to obtain their alteration by lawful means, without exciting or attempting to excite hatred, contempt or disaffection, do not constitute an offence under this section.

(Explanation 3): Comments expressing disapprobation of the administrative or other action of the Government without exciting or attempting to excite hatred, contempt or disaffection, do not constitute an offence under this section.’

As per the plan of the organisers of the lawyers’ programme, the long march will begin in Lahore and Quetta on March 12 and it will reach Islamabad on March 16.

‘We have proposed two venues for the lawyers programme; at sector H-11 and at under construction parade ground near Faizabad. If the lawyers assure the government that they will remain peaceful they will be allowed to enter into Islamabad to hold their public meeting at the proposed site but not in front of Parliament House,’ the adviser said.

The adviser expressed fear that Liberty Chowk terrorist attack could be committed by the terrorists on the lawyers’ long march. ‘We have credible reports that the terrorists who had targeted Sir Lankan cricket team in Lahore can strike again,’ he said.

He claimed that Sharif brothers wanted mid-term election in the country and therefore inciting the masses to revolt.

‘Sharif brothers are not ready to recognize the constitution, the President and judges rather want mid-term election in the country,’ he said.

‘We made a proposal to remove all PCO judges according to the spirit of CoD, but Nawaz Sharif insisted for removing only those judges who took oath under PCO after CoD,’ he said.

Answering to a query about reconciliation efforts, the adviser said JUI-F head Maulana Fazal-ur-Rehman and ANP chief Asfandyar Khan Wali met Nawaz Sharif on the request of PPP leadership for reconciliation. ‘But, Sharif brothers did not bother to reconcile despite successive efforts made by the PPP,’ he added.

Replying to a separate query, he said the Sharif brothers had tendered a written apology to Pervez Musharraf for their release and exile to Saudi Arabia but always refused to accept it and deceived the nation. ‘There is documentary proof of their apology,’ he claimed.

To another question regarding probe into assassination of Benazir Bhutto, he said there was concrete evidence about the perpetrators of the incident. ‘We know the people behind and this information will be shared with the UN team when it will arrive,’ he said.