Imran gave lockdown call despite committing to move together: Khursheed

Says PTI damaged opposition’s unity and Nawaz benefited; wants continuity of Gen Raheel’s policies

LAHORE: Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Khursheed Shah on Tuesday said Imran Khan had dented the opposition while announcing the one-sided call of November 2 to lock down Islamabad. He said in the night it was decided that they would move together, but in the morning Imran announced to lock down the capital on his own.

Talking to the media at the residence of former secretary general of PPP, the late Jehangir Badr, to express condolence with his family over the sad demise of the party stalwart, Khursheed Shah stated that the opposition parties, in the meeting of Terms of Reference Committee, had decided to exert pressure on the government for the passage of Panama Bill. However, he said Imran Khan announced to lock down Islamabad the next day and stated he was responsible for splitting the opposition. He said this move damaged the unity of the opposition parties, which benefited and strengthened Nawaz Sharif.

Khursheed Shah said that Imran Khan thinks politics as children’s game and repeated the allegation against the PTI chief that his action strengthened Nawaz Sharif. He said politics demands everyone should go together adding that all the opposition was brought together with hard work by him, but Imran Khan tried to stage a one-man show on the issue and went straight for a lockdown instead of taking the Panama PTI chief strongly and said that the Panama Leaks case should have been decided in the parliament.

Khursheed Shah also stated that PPP had launched struggle against dictatorial regimes in the past and was not scared of anyone. He also lauded the role of the Chief of the Army Staff General Raheel Sharif in combating terrorism and bringing peace to the country. Khursheed said making Raheel Sharif as COAS proved the right decision. He said that the COAS took charges as the army chief at a very difficult time, adding that after efforts of the COAS, terrorists are on the run while army is fighting them on all the fronts. The Opposition leader stressed the need for continuity in army the policies of General Raheel Sharif. He said if army's policy changed then it will be harmful and suggested appointment of the most senior most general as the next COAS. To a question about the letter of Qatari Prince, Khursheed Shah said that media didn’t pay any focus on the corruption of the rulers, rather its focus had been on the PPP.

Besides, Khursheed Shah, the Opposition leader also reached the PPP central Punjab office at Model Town where he was accorded a warm welcome. The party office remained full of activity as the newly-appointed President of PPP central Punjab Qamar Zaman Kaira visited it for the first time after assuming the office. He was flanked by General Secretary Central Punjab Nadim Afzal Chan and Secretary Information Mustafa Nawaz Khokher.

Later, talking to media, Kaira termed the workers as the asset of PPP and stated party had struggled for the restoration of democracy and it always believed in the supremacy of law and Constitution.