LAHORE: Railways Minister Saad Rafique on Friday said that Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari and his party will be responsible if the elections got delayed.
The minister’s statement referred to the presentation of a constitutional amendment to the delimitation bill in the Senate, where the PPP has a majority. The bill was earlier passed by the lower house as the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz holds a majority.
He added that the decision on who will lead a political party should be made by the party workers and not “behind closed doors”.
Elaborating on his statements, the PML-N leader said the law to bar a disqualified individual from leading a political party was first formulated during former president Ayub Khan’s era and was then introduced during Musharraf’s tenure.
“Both the dictators wanted to bar popular politicians of their time from contesting the elections; hence they introduced the law,” he said.
The PML-N minister further said that all political parties were on the same page regarding the bill.
He also criticised the PPP for voting against the founding leader of their party.
Referring to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan, Rafique said PTI chief does not understand politics, and is using lies and accusations to try to come into power.
“I am very clear about Imran; he will [even] shake hands with the devil for coming to power,” Saad claimed.
سیاسی شعبدہ بازوں کے سرغنہ عمران اور ان کے گروہ کا نام pti ھے
— Khawaja Saad Rafique (@KhSaad_Rafique) November 24, 2017
The Senate has twice postponed the voting on the bill for delimitation of constituencies due to low attendance.
At least 69 votes are required to get the ‘Constitutional Amendment Bill 2017’ approved, which pertains to the fresh delimitation of constituencies in line with the provisional results of the latest census in light of the general elections next year.
According to the new delimitation of constituencies, Punjab’s seat share in the National Assembly will decrease by nine seats, while Islamabad will get one more seat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa five and Balochistan three more.
NA seats for FATA and Sindh will remain unchanged.
