Yasmin Rashid refuses to condemn PM Imran calling Bilawal ‘sahiba’

LAHORE: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader and Punjab Health Minister Dr Yasmin Rashid on Thursday refused to condemn Prime Minister Imran Khan referring to Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari as ‘sahiba.’

A day earlier, Prime Minister Imran Khan while addressing a rally in South Waziristan said he did take over a party on a “paper chit like Bilawal Bhutto sahiba.”

“I am not answerable for my prime minister, he is answerable himself…I do not even know his comment on this, so why should I condemn it,” Rashid told reporters outside the Punjab Assembly.

The provincial minister said she was unaware of the context the statement was made in. “Was it is a slip of tongue? I don’t even know about it.”

While refusing to comment on the prime minister’s statement, Yasmin Rashid said the way Bilawal spoke in the National Assembly was a poor reflection on his mother – former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.

“In the past, I’ve had an association with the peoples party and was a big supporter of BB [Benazir Bhutto]. It seems he [Bilawal] is more influenced by his father [Asif Ali Zardar].”

She added that Bilawal was using his speeches in the National Assembly to protect himself and his father as they were facing inquiries by the National Accountability Bureau.

“Rather than using the Parliament floor for personal interests it is time to start thinking how we can use it to improve the lives of ordinary citizens,” Rashid added. 

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