PPP leader held on corruption charges

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD, AUG. 21. The military government in Pakistan has arrested Mr. Jehangir Bader, secretary-general of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) led by Ms. Benazir Bhutto, on charges of corruption.

Mr. Bader was a senior Minister in the Benazir government and has been charged with corruption by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB). He was taken into custody in Lahore during the day.

The Pakistan President, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, established the NAB months after the October 1999 coup to bring to book all those `who have looted' the country.

The arrest of Mr. Bader has evoked very strong reaction from the PPP. Senior party vice-chairperson and former Federal Minister, Mr. Makhdoom Amin Fahim, has condemned arrest.

``The arrest by the NAB of Mr. Jehangir Bader has proved once again, if any proof was needed, that the military regime continues to employ the so called accountability for advancing its own political agenda.''

``The Pakistan Peoples Party denounces the arrest of its secretary-general in strongest terms and reiterates that neither in the past nor in the future such strong arm tactics will deter the party and its workers from pursuing its struggle to restore democracy, the Constitution and the rule of law in the country.''

The party claimed that the Musharraf regime is shocked by the outcome of the recent local bodies' elections, which have clearly demonstrated that the voice of the people cannot be silenced. This shock together with the determination by the party chairperson, Ms. Bhutto, to soon return to Pakistan and lead the people in their struggle has unnerved the regime, it said.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : International
Previous : Sindh ban on jehad funds evokes protest
Next     : 17 killed in LTTE attack on police station