Zardari says PPP to decide timing of next polls

PPP chief assures his support for continuation of democracy, asks PM Sharif to remain steadfast

Advising Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to remain steadfast for protection of democracy, former president and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari said that PPP will decide when the general elections are held in the country.

Talking to PPP office-bearers, including PPP Punjab President Mian Manzoor Ahmad Wattoo, Tanvir Ashraf Kaira and Raja Riaz, and workers from Faisalabad at Bilawal House Thursday, Zardari said that those deeming PPP to be weak were “politically immature”. The future belongs only to PPP which would emerge victorious if elections were conducted in the country, he added.

The PPP chief said that he supported Nawaz Sharif by coming to Lahore. He said that PPP was not saving the PML-N government but democracy, as continuation of democracy was essential for security and integrity of the country. He claimed that even international powers did not want change in Pakistan for the time being.

Terming the politics of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan as “water bubble”, Zardari said that there was someone else’s hand behind his movement.

The former president said that PPP would become stronger with the entry of Bilawal Bhutto Zardari into politics on October 18. He also discussed arrangements for October 18 PPP public meeting at Mazar-e-Quaid in Karachi and the prevailing political situation in the country. He issued instructions to the leaders to make the public meeting in Karachi a success.

Zardari said that PPP had never done politics for ruling the country but people themselves voted for it. He said that had the returning officers (ROs) not indulged in rigging, the PPP would have been running the government at the Centre. He said they however accepted the results of the elections in the interest of the country and democracy.