Extremists want uncertainty: Sherry

Minister for Information and Broadcasting Sherry Rehman, while strongly condemning firing on the motorcade of the prime minister, has said that extremist forces were trying to create an element of uncertainty in the country.

"We have seen various such attacks before this. These are meant to create an element of uncertainty," she said while speaking at a private television programme. The minister brushed aside suggestions that the incident was aimed at delaying the upcoming presidential election.

She hoped that the PML-N would rejoin the ruling coalition after the presidential election. She said the political forces, who have been mandated in the February 18 elections, had the responsibility to play their due role in tackling problems being faced by the country.

She said the government has adopted clear policy on the issue of extremism and terrorism, considering it a big challenge for the country. She said strength of a democratic government was based on people's mandate and legitimacy, which differentiates it from other governments.

Sherry said that the government used the option of dialogue with local people to ensure peace and development in the tribal areas, but made it clear that it would not allow anybody to challenge the writ of the state at any cost. Commenting on the NAB cases against the PML N leadership, she said no political cases were being re-opened against anybody rather she believed that these should be ended. The pervious government had opened politically motivated cases in the NAB to victimize politicians, she added.

She said the prime minister has decided to close the National Accountability Bureau. She reiterated that the PPP did not believe in politics of victimisation or vendetta but wanted to promote atmosphere of reconciliation in the country. The minister said it would be better for strengthening democracy in the country, if both the PML-N and the PPP go along together.

She asked the PML-N to think about rejoining the coalition, adding the prime minister also has desired that the PML-N should come back in the coalition. To a question, she said in the finance bill it was agreed to increase the strength of the judges, adding it was done in consultation with the PML-N. She said reports about Asif Ali Zardari in the western media were baseless, having no reality.

To a question, she said repealing the 17th

Amendment was part of the PPP manifesto. PPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari has said time and again that the 17th Amendment would be revoked in line with the Charter of Democracy, Sherry said. She said it was right of the PPP to nominate its candidate for the office of president.

Talking to another private channel, Sherry said that a large number of the PML-Q legislators were willing to support Asif Zardari in the presidential election on Saturday. "They want to be counted on the right side of history," she said. The PML-Q was the party of a dictator, which has no ideology, she said.

It was the country's history that dictators have been forming such groups to protect and prolong their rule, she said. When the tide turned against Pervez Musharraf, they started looking for a new political roof, she said. The PPP would not reject their support in the presidential election to its candidate, she said.