Imran lacks political acumen, says Zardari

Warns his party leaders to reconcile with party workers or face consequences


Ali Usman December 02, 2014

LAHORE: Former president and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari on Tuesday claimed that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief lacks political acumen, which is why he had to change the date for a countrywide shut-down from December 16 to December 18 after announcing it at a massive public rally.

Taking a jibe at Imran Khan, Zardari said the PTI chief had called for shutting down the entire country on a date when East Pakistan was lost.

Addressing a workers convention at Bilawal House in Lahore, the PPP co-chairman said Islamabad is not the temple of Somnath which has to be conquered after 26 attacks.

Criticising Imran for his prolonged protest and call for a countrywide shut-down, the former president said, “We should not just shout ‘go, go’ slogans, rather we have to build this country up. If we want to build this country, it’s not appropriate to talk about countrywide closures.”

Commenting on PPP’s performance during its five year rule, the former president said their administration had restored the Constitution in its real shape and introduced the Haqooq-e-Balochistan’ package. However, he conceded that his party had failed to embrace its workers.

Zardari lamented that estranged party leaders, whom he had entrusted with crucial responsibilities, had failed to deliver. “I gave important responsibilities to those who were lying on beds and were out of politics for last 20 years, and now, they are busy in groupings.”

The PPP co-chairman warned party leaders that if they failed to reconcile with workers or failed to stop making groups within the party, then they may have to face consequences.

“Those who cannot payback the debt of workers’ blood, they should go to those who talk about the ‘umpire.’ I don’t need them.”

Zaradri also reiterated his commitment to strengthening democracy in the country, adding that “we [PPP] will not anyone derail it and we do not want anyone to set a tradition which can be dangerous for democracy in any way.”

“Parliaments of the world’s best countries may have flaws but democracy should continue.”

COMMENTS (8)

Asad | 9 years ago | Reply

Neither he need's it. He has made a party of his own, he needs no political wisdom to exploit wife's death.

Jibran | 9 years ago | Reply

What kind of leader is Imran Khan, who thinks after uttering words.

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