The exchange of allegations by politicians, retired judges and former spies has become the talk of almost media outlets in Pakistan and every day brings with it new revelations. The first salvo was fired by a former spy chief.
Brigadier Imtiaz ‘Billah’ told a TV channel that allegations against the MQM party for trying to create a separate state — which were widely circulated in the previous decade, were in fact false.
The MQM went on an offensive and demanded action against those who targeted it then. Brigadier Billah said that the hype was created to justify a military operation in Karachi in the 90s.
This was denied by a number of military officers serving at the time in the operation. The accusation was an embarrassment for former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in whose tenure the operation was launched.
After this, a retired chief justice came on TV to give details of money paid by the ISI to various politicians, including Sharif, in the 90s to defeat the PPP.
Without denying this, Sharif’s party accused President Asif Ali Zardari of launching a dirty tricks campaign. They gave Zardari’s office 48 hours to cease its media offensive or “face the consequences.”
{{/usCountry}}Without denying this, Sharif’s party accused President Asif Ali Zardari of launching a dirty tricks campaign. They gave Zardari’s office 48 hours to cease its media offensive or “face the consequences.”
{{/usCountry}}Now a temporary truce has been reached between the two parties but it is an uneasy truce as accusations by third persons continue on TV.
Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has set up a committee to “review” the allegations and decide on a code of conduct.