Shah questions fairness of July 25 polls after Hanif Abbasi’s conviction

Disqualify them, lock them up, and hand the election to Sheikh Rasheed, says PPP leader

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Khursheed Shah has voiced his serious concerns over transparency of upcoming general elections, claiming that a level playing field is not being provided to all political parties.

The former leader of the opposition in the National Assembly was speaking to the media in Karachi on Monday, Express News reported.

"Disqualify them, lock them up, and hand the election to Sheikh Rasheed," Shah said referring to the life imprisonment sentence awarded to Pakistan Muslim-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Hanif Abbasi in the ephedrine quota case just three days ahead of general elections.



"I've my political differences with the PML-N, but I take exception to the judgement against him [Abbasi] ," he said.

"The message we're giving to the public is that he [Abbasi] was disqualified to hand the election to Sheikh Rasheed," Shah said.

Referring to PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif's conviction in the Avenfield case, he said that court's decision coincided with this week's general elections.

"Even his [Nawaz's] bail hearing has been fixed after July 25," he added.

The PPP leader cried foul over old cases being reopened against PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari ahead of polls.

Fearing further occurrence of similar events in the days of come, Shah said verdicts like these have adversely affect reputation of July 25 polls.

The court should issue a stay order over Abbasi's verdict and allow him to contest the election on Wednesday.