PPP pledges support to PML-N in Punjab by-polls
As the PPP throws weight behind the PML-N, PTI Chairman and former premier Imran Khan said his party will win all the 20 seats in the Punjab by-polls on July 17, despite the support the government enjoyed from “the umpires” to tilt scales in its favour.
Addressing a public gathering in Sahiwal, the PTI chairman threw down the challenge to the “imported government” and said all efforts at rigging the outcome on July 17 will go in vain as his party would emerge victorious.
He claimed that the "imported" government had become so unpopular that even if they get the support of the "umpires", they will not be able to win.
Imran’s rally was a part of the campaign for the upcoming by-election in PP-202. Nauman Langrial, who had won the 2018 election on the PTI ticket from the constituency, had shifted his loyalties to the PML-N. The event had been earlier rescheduled from July 5 to July 6 because of the bad weather forecast.
Speaking to the charged public amid rainy weather and strong winds, the PTI chairman hailed the presence of women and youngsters to make it to the venue despite the rainy weather creating hassles on the way.
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Imran said that the government was also bound to taste defeat in the by-polls despite the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) “support” for them – a claim that has been consistently echoed in a slew of statements from the PTI’s top leadership who have attacked the watchdog over its alleged “bias”.
He accused the ECP of going to great lengths to use their power to ensure the victory of the coalition government’s candidates.
It is pertinent to note that during the PTI chief’s recent rally at Islamabad’s Parade Ground, he had alerted his party workers and supporters to the threat that "the umpires" stood on the government's side, asking them to be wary of rigging during the by-polls.
"When we criticise them they lodge FIRs against us. They have registered 15 FIRs against me but I tell you even if you register 1,500 FIRs, I will not let you go," he vowed.
Imran lauds Express News anchorperson
Lauding Express News anchorperson Imran Riaz Khan for his courage amid a loud cheer from the crowd, the former prime minister said that the ones who have fear of the Almighty do not fear anyone else.
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"That is what they do... they instill fear among the masses but they fail to realise the situation is different [now]," he added.
Imran also said that Zardari is the biggest “beemari” (illness) of the country for the past 30 years, adding that Nawaz was plundering resources of the country despite being in London.
"Maryam Nawaz cannot say a single word of truth but she's getting a protocol. The journalists who sell their conscience are looking for the highest bidder," he added.
Calling the current rulers "thieves", the ousted PM said that even those who are standing with them will not be forgiven by the nation. "If you stop the protests then there will be anarchy in the country. The nation does not fear FIRs now. The situation has passed that point."
He also directed that 10 party workers remain present at each polling station "to stop rigging".
Addressing a news conference in the federal capital, PPP leader and Adviser to PM for Kashmir Affairs and G-B Qamar Zaman Kaira announced that his party and all the allied parties would support the PML-N candidates in all constituencies of the Punjab by-polls.
Kaira was flanked by PML-N leader and Aviation Minister Khawaja Saad Rafiqiue.
“We will also respond to the uncertain [political] situation in the country during the [Punjab] by-polls. [We cannot] allow more adventures to place,” he said.
Rafique thanked Kaira on behalf of the PML-N and its leadership for vowing support to the party during the by-polls.
He said the time the PML-N led coalition government assumed power the country was on the verge of bankruptcy.
“We moved vote of no-confidence [against former PM Imran] in view of the situation in the country,” he said, adding that people got rid of a “curse”.
Rafique said they had the option to leave the government or go into elections but keeping in view the current political scenario his party decided to take up the economic challenges. “We saved the country by putting our politics at stake.”
On May 20, the ECP had de-seated 25 MPAs of the PTI for defying party directives and voting for Hamza Shehbaz for the post of the Punjab chief minister.
The reference against the dissident lawmakers sent by Punjab Assembly Speaker Pervaiz Elahi was accepted by the election watchdog for violating Article 63-A which pertains to defection.
The much-awaited verdict had gained political weightage in the wake of the Supreme Court’s verdict on a presidential reference, seeking its interpretation of Article 63-A, related to the disqualification of lawmakers over defection.