Imran can shake hands with devil to get power: Saad

LAHORE: PML-N leader Saad Rafique on Friday said PTI Chairman Imran Khan did not understand politics and was using lies and accusations for coming into power. "I am very clear about Imran, he can shake hands with the devil for coming to power," he remarked. Saad said PPP Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari and his party would be responsible if the elections were delayed. He was referring to a constitutional amendment concerning delimitation which has been tabled in the Senate where the PPP has a majority. The bill was earlier passed by the Lower House as the PML-N enjoys a clear majority. He said the decision on who will lead a political party should be made by the party workers and not "behind closed doors". Elaborating on his statements, the PML-N leader said the law to bar a disqualified individual from leading a political party was first formulated during former president Ayub Khan's era and was then introduced during Musharraf's tenure. "Both the dictators wanted to bar popular politicians of their time from contesting the elections, hence they introduced the law," said Saad and criticised the PPP for voting against the founding leader of their party. The Senate has twice postponed voting on the delimitation bill due to low attendance. At least 69 votes are required to get the constitutional amendment approved, which pertains to delimitation of constituencies in line with the provisional results of the latest census for the general elections next year. According to the new delimitation of constituencies, Punjab's share in the National Assembly will decrease by nine seats, while Islamabad will get one more seat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa five and Balochistan three more. The seat allocation for Fata and Sindh will remain unchanged.