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Zardari, Altaf push for national unity

Zardari has been facing widespread criticism after his recent outburst against the security establishment.

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Islamabad: Amid rising tensions between the military and the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), the party’s co-chairman, Asif Ali Zardari, and Muttahida Qaumi Movement chief Altaf Hussain pushed for unity in Pakistan during a phone conversation on Thursday.

Zardari has been facing widespread criticism after his recent outburst against the security establishment. The PPP leader had accused the establishment of tarnishing his and his party’s image, threatening to bring the country to a standstill if the “character assassination” did not stop. He also warned the army that his party would smash every thing brick by brick if it continued to be targeted in character assassination.

In reaction to the outburst, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had cancelled a scheduled meeting with the PPP leadership. Sharif also called army chief General Raheel Sharif who was in Moscow winding up his visit, and assured him that he would not tolerate criticism of army at a time when it is fighting terrorism.

Gen. Raheel returned to Pakistan on Friday afternoon and immediately visit the Khyber Agency area where the military operation is currently in its last stages.

According to a Press statement issued on Thursday, Zardari and Altaf discussed the country’s current political scenario, deciding that Pakistan “needs harmony and unity now more than ever”. However, Altaf did not endorse Zardari’s speech against the military.

In another move to blunt Zardari’s scathing attack, Karachi Corps Commander Gen. Naveed Mukhtar visited the headquarters of Rangers and lauded their performance in actions against target killers, kidnappers, extortionists and corrupt mafias.

news@khaleejtimes.com

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