Assemblies should complete their tenure: Zardari

SANGHAR: Former president and Co-Chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Asif Ali Zardari on Thursday said the PPP wants the assemblies to complete their tenure and asked the government to appoint a new prime minister if the case goes against Nawaz Sharif.

"We will see how the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) and the Panama Papers case plays out," says Zardari. 

He added that the prime minister is finding it hard to face a single case against his family yet he does not want to vacate his post. 

Taking a swipe at the incumbent leaders, he said they are better at selling steel rather than running the country.

Referring to his own party, Zardari said leaders of his political party realise the issues of the people, as they are from the same soil.

“CPEC [China Pakistan Economic Corridor] is beneficial for China,” said Zardari and added as an afterthought that it is also beneficial for Pakistan.

Taking a jibe at Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairperson Imran Khan, Zardari said that he needs to understand that there is a huge difference between playing cricket and running a country.

Zardari also said he realised that a conspiracy was being hatched against Pakistan after Benazir Bhutto's assassination.

“I realised the danger the country was facing after my wife’s assassination, hence I raised the slogan of Pakistan Khapay [We want Pakistan],” said the PPP co-chairman while addressing party workers.

Leader of the Opposition Khursheed Shah, addressing the same gathering, said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif needs to inform the people and the country who all are conspiring against Pakistan.

“Nawaz Sharif needs to let the people know, if he does not, he will become a criminal in the eyes of the country,” said Shah.

He added that the prime minister’s statements are weakening democracy and Pakistan.

He urged Nawaz to tell the people regarding the conspiracy so that other political parties stand up in support of democracy.