Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf made a surprise appearance at a tea party hosted by caretaker Prime Minister Muhammadmian Soomro for a group of PML-Q senators, only to be at the receiving end. The winning PML-Q senators accused HIM of not supporting them or the party during the election, and also not taking care to control the fake crisis of flour, electricity and gas shortage just before the polls.
Islamabad, Mar 5 : Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf made a surprise appearance at a tea party hosted by caretaker Prime Minister Muhammadmian Soomro for a group of PML-Q senators, only to be at the receiving end. The winning PML-Q senators accused HIM of not supporting them or the party during the election, and also not taking care to control the fake crisis of flour, electricity and gas shortage just before the polls.
The senators also accused Musharraf had party PML-Q all alone during the polls
At his first interaction with the senators-elect after the February 18 polls, Musharraf faced the criticism as senator after senator got up to blame him for the party's colossal collapse at the polls, reported the News.
According to senator Kulsoom Perveen, who was present at the tea party, many senators complained that the President had left the party alone and did not support them during the election, which resulted in their humiliating defeat. "You could have controlled the fake crisis of flour, electricity and gas created by the establishment just to defeat us," Perveen quoted senators as telling Musharraf. However, Musharraf made an impressive speech on the occasion and told the PML-Q senators not to lose heart over the defeat and remain united in the opposition.
"You people could play a positive role while being in the opposition and your role will strengthen the institutions," the lady senator quoted the President as saying on the occasion.
Senator Tariq Azeem, who resigned yesterday from his party office, said the arrival of President Musharraf was a surprise. Though he admitted that the PML-Q senators criticised the President for not supporting them during the elections, he said that Musharraf defended him by saying that being the President, it was his duty to remain impartial and, as such, he did not support any party.
Azeem also quoted the President as saying that there were always ups and downs in politics.
PML-Q Senator from Balochistan Mohabbat Khan Marri said that the President agreed with their complaint that one of the major reasons for the PML-Q's defeat was the price-hike. He said the PML-Q senators took advantage of the situation and opened their hearts, telling Musharraf that he had failed to co-operate with the party at a difficult time.
ANI