PPP terms any delay in polls ‘illegal’

• PPP chairman says will protect 18th Amendment at all costs
• Bilawal claims party will form government in centre, provinces

LARKANA: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Saturday said elections must be held on time as there was no legal way to postpone general elections.

Speaking to party leaders and workers at the residence of Nisar Ahmed Khuro, the PPP leader claimed his party will form government in Punjab and rest of the country.

Bilawal said they wanted the caretaker government should be non-controversial so that transparent, could be held. He said the PPP was not in favour of controversial setup which was the tradition of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) whose caretaker CM was later appointed as the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) head.

He said he would contest upcoming election against the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and PML-N by raising people’s problems and added that the politics of his rivals would come to an end.

Moreover, the PPP ruled out a compromise on 18th Amendment and provincial autonomy and said it will take all measures to protect it, including going to the courts.

“The party will not allow rollback of 18th Amendment and if it is tried then we will fight on every forum, including courts,” the PPP leader said.

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, Faryal Talpur, Suhail Anwar Siyal and other members of parliament were also present on the occasion.

Bilawal said that after five years, the federal government’s role showed them that they did not want 18th Amendment due to which ministries were being snatched from the provinces.

“Proper portion of the NFC Award is also not being given to the provinces, including Sindh, he said, adding that the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) conspiracy against the 18th Amendment will be exposed.

He said that Imran Khan has been criticising the PPP but he should be asked what has he done for the people.

It was the PPP which gave credit to the poor women without interest due to which 0.6 million families benefited and their lives were improved, he went on to add.  Bilawal said that 8, 000 kilometres of canals in Sindh had been strengthened which was not visible.

He said that he was not 100% satisfied with the working of the government but if they had been given proper share from NFC Award, more development works could have been carried out.