Nawaz told to keep quiet

The Pakistan Muslim League Quaid-e-Azam (PML-QA) has already suffered from former prime minister Nawaz Sharif's interference and he should stop issuing statements about the present government and his return to Pakistan in the near future, Commerce and Trade Minister Humayun Akhtar Khan said in a recent interview.

His remarks, taking a hardline stance against both former prime ministers Nawaz Sharif and Benazir Bhutto appeared to contradict the softer stance taken on the former leaders by Interior Minister Faisel Saleh Hayat.

Khan also denied rumours that his massive wealth was built through corrupt means, and said "the stance against corruption will be as harsh as ever."

Speaking to a Lahore-based English language daily, Khan said it was "amazing" the leader of the PML-N, a party that had merely 14 seats out of 374, was issuing statements regarding his return to the country, when he had signed a deal with the government that he would not return for a specific period.

He believes the PML-QA lost at least 50 seats to the Pakistan People's Party Parliamentarians (PPPP) because the PML-N's agenda led to a split in the vote enjoyed by the Muslim League.

He said had the various factions of the party been united, their results would have been better, but Nawaz was not ready to step down from the leadership of the party.

On the possibility of PPP leader Benazir Bhutto's return, Khan said that the cases filed against her had little to do with this government.

"If she wants to return, she will have to face trial. There is no other option to her".

The government cannot do anything for her as the cases are with the courts, he added. He also hinted at the need for strengthening and implementing bilateral extradition treaties in order to bring back "the plunderers of public money and take them to task".

On accountability, Khan said every country should have organisations like the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to check the misuse of power and other malpractices.

"However, accountability should be target-oriented and not like throwing a net over the river to catch a few fish. This causes panic for all." He denied that convicts had been offered lucrative slots in the government.