960408

Govt accuses

Nawaz of

plan to stir up

violence

IKRAMUL HAQ

ISLAMABAD: The government has accused the Leader of the Opposition Nawaz Sharif of a plan to stir up violence in the country, and also considers him responsible for the murder of Javed Ashraf a Muslim League (N) activist.

The matter was discussed during the Cabinet meeting presided over by Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto on Monday.

Briefing newsmen about the Cabinet meeting, Information Minister Khalid Ahmed Khan Kharal said that during the discussion on law and order problem, the Cabinet was informed that opposition leader aided and abetted by extremist forces has drawn up a plan to stir up violence in different parts of the country, and primarily in Lahore beginning early this month when the PPP leaders were busy in connection with the death anniversary of late Z. A. Bhutto.

Kharal said that Naseerullah Babar, Minister for the Interior, will make a statement in the National Assembly later today.

As press release about the Cabinet meeting said that the Cabinet was further informed that group of 20 persons per ward are reported to have been raised in Lahore to cause bloodshed and anarchy.

He asserted that the opposition enjoyed monopoly of sugar production and were in a position to create artificial scarcity.

He said he had been making this allegation but it had not been taken seriously by the media.

According to him the ECC decision of last week to import one lakh tons of sugar had brought the sugar prices down to Rs 13 or 14 per kilo. He was certain that the latest decision to import 2.25 million tons of sugar will bring down its prices further.

Asked how much sugar was being hoarded by the mills of the opposition leaders, he said, it would be difficult to state the quantity, but it must be several lakh bags.