Rashid believes Zardari orchestrated PML-N fall

Ex-minister says PTI chief Imran Khan’s narrative has reached every home

LAHORE:

A day after the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) reclaimed Punjab in the by-polls, former interior minister Sheikh Rashid took the opportunity to take a dig at former president Asif Ali Zardari, who he said led the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) towards a humiliating defeat.

He said that following the ruling party’s “funeral”, the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) co-chairman “buried” it. He also called on Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman to offer prayers for the party.

He termed the by-polls as a “laboratory test”, wherein the nation gave its verdict in favor of former prime minister Imran Khan by leading it to a “landslide victory”. He also remarked that the PTI’s victory was a manifestation of Imran’s narrative reaching every home.

The Awami Muslim League (AML) chief, who is allied with the PTI, also reiterated his demand for immediate elections.

Commenting on the role of the establishment during the by-polls, he said that they gained respect as the elections were held in a free, fair and transparent manner.

It is worth noting here that the former ruling party reclaimed its majority in the Punjab Assembly during Sunday’s election, paving the way for it to form its government in the hotly-contested province.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s son Hamza Shehbaz became the chief minister with the support of dissenting PTI lawmakers, who were later disqualified for defecting. Sunday’s election has paved the way for the election of Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) leader Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi to the top provincial slot.