Daily Times

SADIQABAD: Former president and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari Sunday doubted the ability of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government to complete its five-year term.

“I don’t see the captain [Imran Khan] being able to manage [his government] for long,” Zardari said at a public gathering in Sadiqabad. He said Prime Minister Imran Khan made false promises with the people ahead of the general election but failed to deliver according to the aspirations of the nation. “In today’s world, a government that does not deliver has to step down,” he said. “He [Imran Khan] will not be able to manage the economy, nor will he be able to hold up to the false promises he made with the people,” he added.

The former president said the incumbent prime minister is incapable of understanding the political issues. “Don’t try to be a king after reading two books,” he advised the prime minister.

The PPP supremo also criticised the prime minister for his statement on taking U-turns. “Last month, the prime minister had said that Adolf Hitler and Napoleon Bonaparte failed because they did not change their strategies according to the situation. Why doesn’t history remember Hitler and Napoleon as heroes?” he asked. “It was not just the matter of one war. Hitler led to the murder of 55 million people … the blood of so many human beings was shed. Imran Khan should think about this … do value human beings,” he added.

“The circumstances were the same when we came into power,” Zardari said, adding that he introduced 18th constitutional amendment and transferred presidential powers to the parliament. “Hadn’t I delegated the president’s powers to parliament, today no dentists or pakora sellers would have been able to become president of the country,” he said.

The former president said his party gave rights to the provinces and pulled the country out of the crises it faced during Pervez Musharraf’s rule. “We didn’t implement the 18th amendment for our own good,” he said. “Nor we kept any political prisoners. The world has progressed now. Truth cannot be hidden,” he added.

The former president demanded that the government fulfil its promise of creation of new province in southern Punjab. “Why don’t they announce [a separate province]? Why don’t they divide Punjab’s budget? In fact, they never intended to act [on their promise]. They don’t have any understanding of politics,” he added.

Published in Daily Times, December 3^rd 2018.