PK-8 defeat exposed PTI popularity: Sabir

PESHAWAR: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz provincial president Pir Sabir Shah said on Saturday that the people had expressed no-confidence over the performance of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-led government by voting for PML-N candidate in the by-election on provincial assembly constituency PK-8.

Speaking at a press conference at Peshawar Press Club, he said that PTI was unable to form government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa but Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif gave it a chance to rule so that the people could judge its capability.

He said that the victory of his party’s candidate proved that PTI leadership believed in hollow slogans and failed to gain popularity among the people.

PML-N provincial general secretary Rahmat Salam Khattak, Women Wing president MPA Sobia Khan and secretary information Nasir Khan Musazai were also present on the occasion.

Sabir Shah said the PTI candidate was supported by Jamaat-i-Islami and Qaumi Watan Party but even then he could not compete against the nominee of the PML-N.

He claimed that people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were keen observer of what was done by the provincial and federal governments during the past three years and thus they preferred to support PML-N on basis of its performance.

Sabir Shah said Imran Khan was in the habit of making tall claims, but did nothing to check corruption, crimes, extortions, price hike in the province.

He said the federal government managed to stamp out terrorism through the military operations, but the PTI had failed to check the rising cases of extortion.

“We have observed that well-off people are leaving the province for safer places in the country or even going abroad to escape from extortionists,” he said.

He said provincial government during the past three years could not utilise the developmental funds mainly due to its incapability, which led to the budgetary losses.

He said leveling of allegations, making tall claims and using derogatory language against political opponents would not help raise the political stature of a person. “Imran Khan should stop cursing others and work for the welfare of the people to materialise his commitments,” he said.

The PML-N leader claimed that electricity loadshedding would be controlled till 2018 and his party would also win the next general election.