Asif Zardari urges Nawaz Sharif to return to Pakistan

Dunya News

The PPP co-chairman said that resigning from assemblies would strengthen PM Imran Khan.

ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP) co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari on Tuesday said that be it long march or no-confidence motion against the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government, former prime minister and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif must return to Pakistan.

Speaking during an important meeting of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), the PPP co-chairman said that resigning from assemblies would strengthen Prime Minister Imran Khan, adding that his party prefers to fight staying in the parliament.

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“This is not the first time that the democratic forces have encountered rigging,” he said and added he had spent 14 years of his life in jail.

Zardari went on to say that they [PPP] had mobilized whole country when late former prime minister Benazir Bhutto returned to the country following her exile in 1986 and 2007.

He said that we have to plan the long march in the same way as we did on the arrival of Benazir Bhutto in 1986 and 2007. “I am not afraid of anyone, however, the struggle should be for the consolidation of democratic institutions rather than personal obstinacy,” he added.

Asif Zardari further said that we contested Senate elections but former finance minister and PML-N senator Ishaq Dar didn’t show up, adding that how do you [Nawaz Sharif] plan to solve issues of general public.

“You [Nawaz Sharif] did not increase salaries in your tenure, I increased salaries in my tenure,” he added.

The PPP co-chairman said: “If the PML-N supremo is ready for war, be it long march or no-confidence motion against government, he must return to Pakistan, adding that I am ready for war but perhaps my domicile is different.”

“You [Nawaz Sharif] represent Punjab but I gave powers to the Parliament,” he added.

"The PPP and I were punished for passing 18th amendment and National Finance Commission Award (NFC) awards," he said adding that they were ready for struggle till the last breath but leaving the assemblies is tantamount to strengthening Imran Khan.

“Don t make decisions that separate us,” Asif Zardari said.

He said that the benefit of our anarchy will benefit the enemies of democracy, Pakistan Peoples Party is a democratic party, we do not fight from the mountains but in the parliament.

The PPP co-chairman further added that the chaos among the joint opposition will benefit the enemies of democracy, adding the Pakistan Peoples’ Party is a democratic party.