Bilawal sees rout of PTI in 2018 elections

Says Nawaz Sharif’s unconstitutional decisions paved the way for undemocratic forces

CHITRAL: Lambasting both of his political rivals, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has said that PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif has already been disqualified while PTI chief Imran Khan will contest his ‘last polls’ next year.

“The former PM Nawaz Sharif’s politics has come to an end after the Panama Papers verdict of the apex court, and the 2018 elections will also be the last election for the PTI chief Imran Khan. However, these elections will usher in the PPP’s era,” Bilawal said on Saturday.

The PPP chief was addressing a rally during his maiden visit to the Chitral district of Khyber Pakhtunkha (K-P), where the PPP’s provincial and central leaders had gathered to welcome their young leader.

Bilawal said the former PM’s unconstitutional decisions had paved the way for undemocratic forces, adding that Nawaz had brought a factor of business into the politics.

 



The PPP chief, however, assured the public that the Panamagate scandal had not reached its conclusion and that the former PM had to be held accountable for each penny he earned ‘through graft’.

He said his grandfather, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, had initiated power and education projects in the district and provided resources for the Lowari Tunnel, which, he claimed, was still incomplete when former PM Nawaz Sharif inaugurated it last month.

He said Imran introduced ‘dirty language’ in the country’s politics, adding that K-P Chief Minister Pervez Khattak was accused of legally granting contracts for mining.

“The PTI chief spent Rs600 million to root out the corruption from the province but still his CM and ministers are involved in graft. We haven’t witnessed any change in the province,” Bilawal added.



He claimed that through systematic corruption, resources were generated to run the kitchen of Bani Gala [Imran’s residence] and to provide fuel to the helicopter of Jahangir Tareen. He said the charges were not levelled by him but the MNAs and ministers of Imran’s own party.

He also demanded across-the-board accountability for parliamentarian and those who had misused authority and were involved in corruption.

“The PTI and the PML-N are our archrivals in the political and ideological war. I assure you that i will come with a manifesto that will lead a way for the PPP’s victory in the upcoming elections,” he added.

Bilawal also criticised the apex court for its ‘delayed’ decision-making process and asked the Supreme Court to issue neutral judgments and not to become court of a party.

Earlier, PPP MPA Saleem Khan welcomed the party chief in the town and presented him Kalashi gifts. The rally was organised at Chitral’s Polo Ground and was attended by around 15 thousand people. Some 500 personnel of police were deployed to ensure security.