Zardari's demand for recount in four constituencies creates a new stir
Political leaders from all parties share their opinion at the surprising statement.
LAHORE: (Dunya News) Co Chairman Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and former President of Pakistan, Asif Ali Zardari, has said today (Tuesday) that votes should be recounted in the four constituencies demanded by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). He said that there is nothing wrong with this demand. Adding further, the former President said that Nawaz Sharif is ruling like a king and not like a Prime Minister. "NAwaz Sharif was elected a Prime Minister by the people, not as a king", said Asif Ali Zardari.
Vice Chairman PTI Shah Mehmood Qureshi has welcomed this statement. Shah Mehmood has invited PPP to join PTI’s Long March as well. The Long March is scheduled to be held on 14th of August, 2014.
Awami Muslim League (AML) leader Sheikh Rasheed has said that another political party is also about to join the call for Long March after PPP and the alliance will ultimately lead to Mid-Term elections in the country.
Responding to all this, PML-N stalwart from Faisalabad Rana Sanaullah questioned the objectives of the Long March. “Two out of four constituencies have already had the recount while the other two are pending in Election tribunals”, said former Law Minister of Punjab. “Will they verify the thumb impressions sitting at the D-Chowk?” wondered Rana Sanaullah.
The statement by Asif Zardari has come at a critical time and is in contrast with what the parliamentary party of the PPP has been saying for the last few days. Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Khursheed Shah has said on various occasions that the PPP is not going to support any move to derail the democratic system in the country.
Although the Co-Chairman of the PPP has still not given any hint towards joining the Long March, the statement certainly has created a new stir in the national political scene.
Chairman PTI Imran Khan was quick to welcome Asif Zardari’s statement by hosting a press conference. Imran Khan said that the government has no legitimacy and termed the entire General Election 2013 as fraudulent. He said that he no longer demanded recounting or voters’ verification in four constituencies but his demand is nothing less than a mid-term election now.
Responding swiftly to Imran Khan’s press conference, Senator Pervaiz Rasheed said that Imran Khan is being misled by some party leaders who want him to lose his focus on Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).
Federal Minister for Railways Khawaja Saad Rafique said that governments are made through public mandate and nobody has a right to de-seat a sitting government through extra-constitutional steps.
Chief Minister Sindh Syed Qaim Ali Shah surprisingly came up with a statement that contradicted his party head’s statement. When asked about Asif Ali Zardari calling Nawaz Sharif as a king, CM Sindh said that media should ask Asif Zardari about it. “For me, Nawaz Sharif is my Prime Minister”, said Qaim Ali Shah.
Jamat-i-Islami (JI) Chief, Siraj-ul-Haq had also said yesterday that he did not want a mid-term election. “People have given PML-N the mandate to rule for five years. They will hold Nawaz Sharif accountable for his rule after five years in General Election”, said Sirajul Haq. It is interesting to note that JI is the ally of PTI in KPK and Sirajul Haq is the provincial Finance Minister.
