Asif Ali Zardari, former president of Pakistan and Pakistan Peoples’ party’s co-chairman, ruled out the possibility of running in the upcoming elections as a candidate for an alliance with the ruling coalition as rumors about disagreements between the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) grow more widespread.
The PPP co-chairman made it clear during a press conference in Vehari that the party would run in the upcoming elections under the “arrow” symbol rather than in an alliance with the PDM, which is currently in power. “We are not a part of the PDM, but we are their partners in the government,” the PPP stalwart said ahead of the general polls in Punjab — which are scheduled to be held on April 30. As the nation experiences historic inflation and recovers from devastating floods, the PPP and the PDM-led government appear to be at odds over governance and economic matters.
Imran Khan, the leader of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), has also been excluded from talks by Zardari, who claimed that the former prime minister is not a politician. When asked if he had been consulted about the police’s attempt to detain the PTI leader, Zardari responded, “It is the prerogative of the interior minister. Why would he consult me?” Khan has been eluding law enforcement efforts to apprehend him; he is accused of money laundering and of selling Toshakhana gifts illegally while he was prime minister. The PTI leadership, however, is eager to demonstrate its strength in Lahore at what it called a “historic public rally” this Wednesday, in spite of the legal difficulties.
PPP Chairman and Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari had also warned the centre of quitting ministries if the promises made to flood affectees in Sindh about financial assistance are not fulfilled. “The promises to flood victims are needed to be fulfilled otherwise it will be difficult for us to hold our [federal] ministries,” Bilawal said during an event in Karachi. Expressing his severe concerns and regret, the PPP leader said that the promises made to the flood affectees by the federal government could not be fulfilled. The flood-hit community is going through a difficult time amid rising inflation in the country, he added. The centre, he further said, should give priority to the flood affectees. “If the federal government or Prime Minister [Shehbaz] made promises, then they need to be fulfilled. According to the PPP chairman, the ruling party in Sindh would raise the issue in the National Assembly as well as before the prime minister. He also expressed hope that their concerns would be redressed by the federal government.
Meanwhile, Senator Raza Rabbani, a senior PPP leader, underscored similarities between the PDM-led incumbent government and the PTI regime — which the sitting rulers had vehemently opposed.
In a press release, the ex-Senate chairman — whose party is in the ruling alliance — said: “It seems be it the PTI or present governments want azadi [freedom] from Parliament and the Constitution, 1973.”
The country is witnessing its worst economic turmoil, with the rupee at an all-time low, the foreign exchange reserves plunging almost every other week, and to top it off, a new wave of terrorism has also hit Pakistan.
In light of ongoing issues, Rabbani has also sought clarifications from the government as, according to him, the rulers keep avoiding parliament.
The senator also said parliament needs to be taken into confidence over the “dragging of the feet by the IMF [International Monetary Fund] on signing the agreement and reluctance of friendly countries, except China, to help sans the IMF”.
