BATKHELA: Referring to the sentence handed down to former prime minister Imran Khan in the cipher and Toshakhana cases, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said Wednesday said he was not the one who would be happy over the troubles his rivals were facing, but added the PTI founder was facing poetic justice.
Addressing a well-attended public gathering in the Malakand district, he said a former prime minister was not allowed to contest the elections but unfortunately this was being celebrated. “We are not those who celebrate the plight of our opponents. However, a certain political party is celebrating that one of their opponents is out of the elections,” he remarked.
He maintained that a “planted” leadership was imposed on the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), urging its supporters to vote for the PPP to prevent the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz from coming to power. “We appeal to PTI voters to exercise the right to vote. If they waste their vote on independent candidates, then Nawaz Sharif will become the prime minister,” he added.
Bilawal said that he would release all political prisoners on the first day of his rule. He also promised to provide relief to the common people and eliminate the perks of the elites.
He said the traditional politicians practiced the same politics every five years. “Imran Khan was also doing the politics of hate and division. Nawaz Sharif too indulged in the politics of hate when he came to power thrice,” he remarked, adding that if Nawaz Sharif became the prime minister for the fourth time, he would do the same again and eventually the people would suffer.
Bilawal said that PTI lawyers did not have any supporting documents to plead their case. “No document was presented before the court about PTI’s membership and intra-party election. The PTI lost its symbol because of planted lawyers,” he pointed out.
In the cipher case, he believed, the “planted” lawyers did not come to the court for three days and they lost the case. “Imran Khan was harmed by his own lawyers who were all planted. PTI workers should vote for PPP and not waste their vote on independent candidates,” he added.
“Imran Khan and Nawaz Sharif should realize that what goes around comes around,” he remarked. “Imran Khan had arrested sisters and daughters of his opponents, which is against our religion, politics and traditions. How long will the people continue to witness the same? I promise that if you elect me as your PM, I will establish a Truth and Reconciliation Commission because the nation needs reconciliation,” he promised.
