Zardari certified criminal, can’t stand beside him: Imran

KARACHI: Despite sharing stage with him at the opposition parties rally in Lahore earlier this month, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan has said he cannot stand beside the country’s former president and Pakistan People's Party (PPP) co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari at any forum.

Imran made the statement while talking to the media on Saturday as he arrived in Karachi on a two-day visit.

"I cannot commit the crime of standing alongside Zardari, he said, adding the Pakistan Peoples Party's co chairman is a certified criminal. “I consider Zardari as the most corrupt person,” he remarked, saying the PPP leader and ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif have inflicted most damage to the country because of their compromised politics. The only difference between Nawaz and Zardari is their modus operandi, Imran said.

The PTI chief said Sharif wanted to derail the democratic system to save his corruption. He claimed that the former premier is likely to be convicted for money laundering next month and he is desperately trying to save his skin.

“He is making all efforts to hide his theft,” Khan criticized Sharif and added he should be held accountable for the Rs300 billion that he allegedly made through illegal means. The PTI chief claimed Nawaz Sharif, eyeing a political mileage intends to land in jail for contempt of court. “He is attacking army and wants to derail democracy. His only intention is to prevent his conviction.” They know that the authorities will freeze their bank accounts and they will have to return all the robbed wealth, he said.

Imran said that his 21 years of political struggle is against people like Sharif and Zardari because they have looted the public exchequer. He said both his rivals have put the police at their disposal, leaving the public at the mercy of criminals. Lashing out at the Sindh and Punjab police, the PTI chairman further alleged that the law enforcement force in both the provinces is involved in extrajudicial killings. When the police officers carry out orders to kill people they start killing citizens on their own, he added.

“The policing system in Sindh and Punjab has worsened,” he commented, adding that 2,500 personnel are guarding the Sharif residence in Raiwind and it implies that the Punjab police is only tasked with protecting the former prime minister’s family. Also in case of Sindh if the police is not politicized then there would have been no need of Rangers deployment in Karachi.

Mentioning the Model Town tragedy and Rao Anwar’s alleged staged encounters, he said justice should be done. “Nobody can kill anyone unless they have the backing of some influentials.” During his stay in Karachi, the PTI chief is expected to attend some personal and political events, meanwhile.