Zardari rules out talks with Imran

Says former premier would have further ‘sold out country’s institutions’ had he stayed in power longer

VEHARI:

PPP Co-Chairperson and former president Asif Ali Zardari on Monday took a dig at PTI Chairman Imran Khan, saying talks could be held with politicians and political parties but not with the former premier, noting that the latter was in a “habit of taking U-turns”.

He was addressing the media in Vehari.

Zardari noted that Imran had performed some jobs which were unacceptable, saying, “had he stayed in power longer he would have further sold out the country’s institutions”.

“Imran Khan wanted to sell all the institutions of the country but we saved Pakistan by ousting him from power,” he said.

“This is our land (Pakistan) which we cannot give to anyone or strike a deal for it.”

The PPP leader stated that talks could be held with politicians and political parties but not with the PTI chief as he was “not a politician”.

Imran was ousted from power through a vote of no-confidence in April last year.

Read: PTI announces ‘historic public rally’ in Lahore on Wednesday

The PTI chairman had time and again favoured taking U-turns in politics, saying successful leaders act according to prevailing situations.

“Imran himself would say that he takes U-turn. [He would say] It is my habit. Though in politics it is said that there is no U-turn after a commitment is made, he favoured taking U-turns,” Zardari said.

“Imran says if Hitler and Napoleon had taken U-turns the situation would have been different [for their countries]. One who has read only one book on Hitler and Napoleon speaks in this manner.”

Responding to a question, the PPP co-chairperson maintained that arresting Imran was the interior ministry’s “own matter”, adding that “I do not interfere in it”.

“Why would the interior ministry ask me (before arresting Imran)? It would do what it has to do.”

The PTI chairman on Sunday evaded arrest as his supporters prevented the Islamabad police from entering his Zaman Park residence in Lahore amid high drama.

However, the police were able to serve the notice on Imran, handing it to his chief of staff Shibli Faraz, for “compliance” of arrest warrants issued by the sessions court of Islamabad in the Toshakhana case.

On another question, Zardari said, in politics, one has to be painstaking, should have served jail term while Imran is not used to it.

He said Imran's success in the Rajanpur by-election was not merely a reflection of his popularity. Rather, it was largely due to the public's disapproval of the incumbent government's management of inflation.

On the issue of digital census, he said Sindh had reservations on it whereas the PDM had its “own stance”.

He further said that the PPP was a part of the government and not the PDM.

Read more: Bilawal warns of quitting govt if promises not fulfilled

Deliberating on PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s statement to quit the government if promises to the flood-affected people were not fulfilled, Zardari said that his son was a “young man who loses his temper very quickly”.

“I am 67 years old. [I am] in a habit to control my temper. He (Bilawal) has studied at Oxford and says you (Centre) made a promise but did not fulfill it.”

Regarding alliance with other political parties in the next elections, the PPP leader said, “we will see when the polls are held”.

Replying to another question, Zardari said, “judiciary is also from the people in society. We have to talk to them. They (judges) were lawyers before and now have become judges”.

On the concerns that the country would default, he said that Pakistan was a country and not a “public limited company”.

“Japan and other countries have defaulted in the past. Default does not mean that the country is finished.”