Zardari blames Nawaz for Mashal’s murder

PPP co-chairman says SC’s decision has made it mandatory for Nawaz to resign

SHERGARH: Pakistan Peoples party Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari firing a broadside at Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif accused him of being responsible for the murder of Mashal Khan, a university student in Mardan who was lynched over a blasphemy accusation earlier this month.

“It all happened because of your [Nawaz’s] philosophy. That is why I hold you responsible for this incident,” Zardari said while addressing a party gathering in Malakand, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. “You are the offspring of Ziaul Haq.”

“Decision of Supreme Court has made it mandatory for Premier Nawaz Sharif to resign and the country would heave a sigh for relief when Pseudo Khan will exit from K-P and PPP will form a government here in the land of the lions,” he said.



“Even judges of the apex court have chanted the slogan, Go Nawaz Go through their decision and today every child of the country is repeating the slogan after the court’s decision,” the former president said.

He also attacked the federal government for blocking CNICs of people from KP and Fata and termed the act an injustice.

“They have blocked the cards of those who have sacrificed for the peace and stability of the country,” the PPP leader said.



“The masses of Fata were deceived through their merger decision,” he said adding that PPP supports the process, but the federal government should first announce a special uplift package for the agency.

Zardari went on to say that CPEC and Fata merger were the brainchild of the PPP government and if PPP came to power in the next general elections, Pakistan would benefit from the outcome of the multi-billion dollar project.

Later directing his ire at the Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif telling the K-P crowd, “China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is yours, but you are being deprived of it by the Punjab CM.”

Pledging to assist the Pakhtun community in regaining control of their projects and resources, Zardari claimed that his party had vowed to serve the masses. “We have given the Pakhtuns their identity as we know that they needed to be recognised,” he said.



Criticising the country’s current foreign policy, the PPP co-chairman said it had failed to achieve any results. “The foreign policy adopted by the rulers has failed,” Zardari said, adding he will bring back money looted by the rulers to the country.

Taking a jibe at PTI chief, Zardari said that the public gathering in Mardan and Malakand was referendum against the ‘Pseudo Khan’.

“Through the support of the K-P masses we will not let PTI form government in K-P in the next general election,” Zardari vowed.

He announced that if voted to power, PPP will double the package of the Benazir Bhutto Income Support Programme and other incentive will also be part of the package.