Karachi: Paramilitary rangers have carried out raids and booked a close aide of former president Asif Ali Zardari under anti-terrorism law, as Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) co-Chairperson returned to the country ending his 18- month-long self-imposed exile.
Political analysts see the raids carried out on the offices and residence of businessman Anwar Majeed (who is still absconding), just hours after Mr Zardari's return on Friday, as a message by the establishment to the firebrand leader to stay out of politics.
Other close aides of Mr Zardari including an influential former petroleum minister and businessman Dr Asim Hussain are already languishing in jails facing several cases of corruption and aiding terrorism.
"The rangers decision to carry out the raids on the same day as Zardari arrived. It shows that the powerful lobbies are not keen to have him in the country," political analyst Nigar Jafri said.
"There are several cases and issues pending in which his close aides have been accused of massive corruption and some are in custody, so basically it is a message to him to go back to Dubai," another analyst said.
However, Mr Zardari appeared calm when he visited the mausoleum of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah today to pay homage to the founder of the country on his birthday.
"Yes Anwar Majeed is a friend but why the rangers have raided his offices you should ask the interior minister," Mr Zardari told the media.
He said he was also keeping abreast of the cases against Mr Asim.
"I have said before, these charges are political victimisation," he added.
Interestingly, Mr Zardari's return to Karachi was not celebrated as a big occasion by the PPP as everyone expected and instead of going from the airport to his son Bilawal Bhutto Zardari's house in a motorcade the former president and his close aides preferred to fly from the airport by a helicopter prompting speculations that there were security threats to his life.
Political analysts and citizens had expected the PPP to make a big show of Mr Zardari's return on the main Karsaz road, where in October 2007, a deadly attack on the motorcade and procession of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, who had returned home from a self-imposed exile after nine years, had killed around 160 PPP activists.
Political analysts see the raids carried out on the offices and residence of businessman Anwar Majeed (who is still absconding), just hours after Mr Zardari's return on Friday, as a message by the establishment to the firebrand leader to stay out of politics.
Other close aides of Mr Zardari including an influential former petroleum minister and businessman Dr Asim Hussain are already languishing in jails facing several cases of corruption and aiding terrorism.
"There are several cases and issues pending in which his close aides have been accused of massive corruption and some are in custody, so basically it is a message to him to go back to Dubai," another analyst said.
Advertisement
"Yes Anwar Majeed is a friend but why the rangers have raided his offices you should ask the interior minister," Mr Zardari told the media.
Advertisement
"I have said before, these charges are political victimisation," he added.
Advertisement
Political analysts and citizens had expected the PPP to make a big show of Mr Zardari's return on the main Karsaz road, where in October 2007, a deadly attack on the motorcade and procession of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, who had returned home from a self-imposed exile after nine years, had killed around 160 PPP activists.
COMMENTS
Advertisement
"Take Pride In Multi-Religious Pakistan": PM Shehbaz Sharif On Holi Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari's Daughter Aseefa To Make Poll Debut Pak President Asif Ali Zardari To Forgo Salary Amid Economic Crisis: Report CBI Team At Kolkata Hospital For Digital Mapping Of Crime Scene Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah To Be Prosecuted In Land Scam Case Kolkata Rape-Murder: Fractures, 150 mg Semen, Other Claims Denied By Cops Ram Charan And Upasana Level Up The Twinning Game In Chic All-Black Looks Video: Man Skis Off 18,753-Foot Himalayan Cliff, Shatters World Record Court Reserves Order On Summoning Lalu Yadav, Tejashwi In Land For Job Case Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.