PPP thwarted PML-N's push to ban PTI: Mandokhel

PPP leader says party would not stand idly by while PML-N tried to overstep on matters of democratic principles.

LAHORE:

Pakistan People's Party (PPP) leader Qadir Mandokhel revealed that it was PPP's pushback that forced the PML-N-led government to rethink its stance on banning PTI, asserting that his party can send the ruling party packing whenever it chooses.

He claimed that PPP, a party capable of pulling the rug out from under the government's feet whenever it wishes, would not stand idly by while PML-N tried to overstep on matters of democratic principles.

He said that the information minister announcing the government's intent to ban PTI had nailed his government's colours to the mast. "Why else would PML-N leaders flip-flop on the issues. It was the pressure from PPP that had relayed its reservations over the move."

He said that, contrary to the public position, PPP does not approve of such undemocratic measures. He added that if PTI had done something, they should identify the culprit and punish them. An entire party cannot be held accountable for the actions of a few.

Regarding PPP's seemingly confused policy, he said that it was the paucity of options that was keeping the alliance together. He acknowledged that there was no denying that these general elections were rigged, but holding another election without addressing the problems would not solve anything. He stressed that it was high time for all parties to join forces and overhaul the electoral system.

He also revealed that he had been on the receiving end of election rigging.

He was punished for pursuing a case against Faisal Vawda and was pressured by the deep state to back down during an illegal detention, with the carrot of a Senate seat dangled before him.

All this manoeuvring was carried out under the orders of the then Corps Commander Peshawar Faiz Hameed.

He found it laughable to see figures like Faisal Vawda and Khawaja Asif criticize Faiz Hameed and the previous military setup. He pointed out that Khawaja Asif's 2018 election win was a gift from the outgoing military establishment.

He quipped that while most people cannot even reach an SHO in the dead of night, his highness had the clout to ring up the COAS to complain about poor election results. He also claimed that for Faisal Vawda, General (retd) Faiz personally stepped in to save him.