The Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) released on Monday an audio tape containing a conversation purportedly between PML-Q leader Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi and an unidentified person making references to two senior most members of the judiciary for rejection of the nomination papers of PML-N leaders Nawaz Sharif and Shahbaz Sharif.
The recording was released by PML-N Information Secretary Ahsan Iqbal at a press conference at the PML-N,Model Town secretariat. He said they had received the recording from an unidentified person, who had dropped it in the PML-N secretariat.
He said the president and his PML-Q cronies had been making efforts so that the Sharif brothers could not run in the by-elections. He said the returning officers had approved the nomination papers of Nawaz and Shahbaz, much to the consternation of the presidential camp, which was desperate in getting their papers rejected by the superior courts.
About the audio recording, Ahsan alleged one of the voices was quite clear and that was of Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi. He said the recording reflected that President Musharraf and his PML-Q cronies were conspiring to derail democracy.
The recording is as under:
Operator: Hello, I am getting you connected with Chaudhry Sahib.
Pervaiz Elahi: Nobodys on the line.
Operator: Please hold on.
(Connected)
Elahi: Assalam-o-Alaikum, how are you?
Caller: It seems you are very busy today.
Elahi: No, no, how are you? Is it okay?
Caller: Thank you, sir; much positive has been achieved in compliance with your orders.
Elahi: Which one?
Caller: You asked for the rejection of their applications (nomination papers). Sir, the chief of Lahore was called last night.
Elahi: Oh, yes, but buddy, the rejection could not be achieved.
Caller: Sir, its done. It was finalised last night.
Elahi: (pleased) Oh.
Caller: The chief of Lahore was called and given the material. He said that the two people and the material be sent to the high court. Much offended, he (the third person) said why he (the chief of Lahore) let the papers be accepted when they (Sharif brothers) are facing so serious charges. Then the chief of Lahore said that the two people might be sent to him at the high court. He said he would constitute a tribunal to see the nomination papers rejected.
Elahi: Oh, I see.
Caller: No, its up to you.
Elahi: Okay, we are already on it. One Akhlaque Guddu is at our behest. We are moving the high court.
Caller: I am again telling you, sir, the matter has been finalised. What I am telling you is confirmed.
Elahi: Will the papers of both including Shahbaz Sharif be rejected?
Caller: Yes sir, of both. The Lahore chief was in Islamabad last night. He was a bit reluctant, but he was told by a senior most member of the judiciary (the tape recording names the senior member of the judiciary) that the rejection should be done at any expense. He (Lahore chief) demanded that the persons be sent to him and he would constitute a tribunal to reject the cases.
Caller: When are you coming to Islamabad?
Elahi: After a few days.
Caller: Should I tell him/them that our people would move the high court.
Elahi: Yes, of course.
Caller: Can I meet you in Lahore? I will also manage your telephonic conversation with the senior most member of the judiciary.
Elahi: Yes, why not, you are welcome any time.
Caller: Just send your people (to the LHC) and the job would be done, for surely.
Elahi: I will.
Caller: Any other order.
Elahi: Thank you.
Responding to a query whether they have received the copy of the proposed constitutional package, Ahsan Iqbal said he had met Law Minister Farooq A Naek, at a reception the other night, who told him that the package was being given final touches and its copies would be given to the coalition partners in a couple of days.
He said the PML-N had not yet decided if Nawaz Sharif would appear before the PCO judges in connection with his candidature case.
Ahsan accused President Pervez Musharraf of conspiring against the coalition government with the help of the PML-Q while sitting in the Army House.
On the issue of PML-Ns three ministers, who attended a dinner at Governor house during a reception to the prime minister, he said the ministers had attended the dinner of the prime minister, not of the governor.
He said the PML-N still had reservations about Governor Salmaan Taseer and they had not yet reconciled with him. He said had the PPP nominated Jahangir Badr as Punjab governor, he himself would have garlanded him.
Its a fake, says Pervaiz
Opposition Leader Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi on Monday said the audio tape played by PML-N leader Ahsan Iqbal before the media was fake. In a statement, the PML-Q leader said Ahsan Iqbal should provide ample proof for the authenticity of the tape in which he (Pervaiz Elahi) was allegedly involved in a conversation with a person to plot the disqualification of PML-N Quaid Nawaz Sharif. He said the allegations were baseless and ridiculous. He said that he would file a suit against Ahsan Iqbal for casting aspersions on him.