Opposition buying loyalties in guise of democracy, says Shibli

Says PM Imran has become the biggest obstacle in the way of those involved in loot, plunder, and dynastic politics

ISLAMABAD:

Minister for Information and Broadcasting Senator Shibli Faraz on Tuesday said that Maryam Nawaz and Bilawal Bhutto are working against democracy with their politics.

"Bilawal Bhutto and Maryam Nawaz are taking revenge from democracy; they buy the loyalties of people and then hide behind [the slogan of] democracy," Faraz said in a series of Twitter posts.

"If those at the helm of affairs were eligible and capable, they would have entered their parties at the grass-root level," he added.

بلاول بھٹو اور مریم نواز دونوں مل کر جمہوریت سے بہترین انتقام لے رہے ہیں۔ پیسے سے لوگوں کے ضمیر خریدنے کی کوشش کرتے ہیں اور پھر جمہوریت کے پیچھے چھپ جاتے ہیں۔ پاریٹوں پر قابض ہونے والے اتنے اہل اور لائق ہوتے تو کارکن کے طور پر پارٹی میں آتے ۔

— Senator Shibli Faraz (@shiblifaraz) March 9, 2021

Also read: PM Imran was 'handed' trust vote by institutions, says Abbasi

The minister noted that those who are involved in dynastic politics plan to impose their offspring on the nation. "People won't be deceived by those who want to continue to indulge in loot and plunder."

He further said that it is up to the masses to decide whether they want to end the 'franchise' or let them "carry the license for the loot and plunder."

"Had Muhammad Nawaz Sharif believed in the sanctity of vote, he would still be in Pakistan," the information minister said, adding that Maulana Fazlur Rehman was readying his son to take up his post when he retires.

Also read: PM confident PDM will face failure again

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader concluded by saying: "Prime Minister Imran Khan has become the biggest obstacle in the way of those who loot the people and do dynastic politics."

محمد نواز شریف اگر ووٹ کی عزت پر یقین رکھتے تو پاکستان میں ہوتے۔مولانا فضل الرحمان اپنے برخودار نور چشمی کو اپنی گدی کیلئے تیار کر رہے ہیں۔وزیر اعظم عمران خان قوم کو لوٹنے اور موروثی سیاست کرنے والوں کے راستے کی سب سے بڑی دیوار بن گئے ہیں ۔

— Senator Shibli Faraz (@shiblifaraz) March 9, 2021

The 11-party opposition alliance – the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) – while officially declaring Yousuf Raza Gilani its candidate for the slot of Senate chairman -- has warned the establishment against any attempt to interfere in the polls for the key position, scheduled for March 12.

Pulling off an upset in the March 3 Senate polls, the PDM parties have managed to retain their majority in the upper house of parliament and are now hopeful of getting the top offices of chairman and deputy chairman for which elections through secret balloting are scheduled for March 12.