I will fire ‘political weapons’ if needed to thwart threats against government: Zardari

KARACHI - Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari has said that he has some ‘political weapons’, which he could use to thwart threats facing the democratic government.

In an interview with a private television channel, Zardari said there are some ‘political actors’ who are working against the government and hatching conspiracies against it to destabilise the country.

Responding to question, Zardari said political forces wanted civilian control over the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), but it would remain under military control for the time being.

“The political forces want that the ISI should be brought under the civilian control, but for the time being, this matter has been shelved.The establishment is the name of a perception, which works in different ways. It (establishment) appears sometimes in the shape of Leghari and sometimes as Roedad Khan,” The News quoted Zardari, as saying.

When asked that whether he feels that his life is under threat, he said such threats can not be ruled out.

“I know my popularity graph is going down,but if we do not take some harsh decisions at this moment, our next generation will not forgive us,” Zardari added.

Zardari reiterated that there were intelligence reports that the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) chief Baitullah Mehsud , who was killed in a US drone attack earlier this year, was behind the assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto. (ANI)