Qureshi warns of Sri Lanka-like situation if by-polls rigged

MULTAN: PTI Vice-Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi has warned that if anything goes wrong in July 17 by-elections, God forbid, the situation could be similar to Sri Lanka.

Talking to journalists here after Eid prayer, he said people are facing tough times because of past 40-year blunders. Qureshi said: “The whole nation has seen the crisis in Sri Lanka. The economic situation in Sri Lanka gradually deteriorated. Pakistan has been facing economic difficulties for forty years. They have to make plans so that their economic situation is not like that of Sri Lanka.”

“Imran Khan has made it clear to the power circles that the economic situation is as it is now on track. The situation has deteriorated due to the no-confidence motion. Petrol prices have gone up, and the textile sector is going to close after Eid,” he added.

Qureshi offered special prayers for people entangled in devastating floods and prayed Good to reduce the miseries of flood-affected people. He said that the inflation rate has skyrocketed since the PMLN-led coalition took over the country. “Fuel, oil, ghee and other essential item prices have been hiked,” he said. He condemned actions and attacks against journalists Imran Riaz Khan, Arshad Sharif and Sami Ibrahim. “The by-polls on 20 PA seats including PP-217 Multan would be held on July 17. “Journalists were subjected to government repression without any reason,” he said, adding that all these media people should have stood up for Imran Riaz.

He said the PMLN candidate is holding meetings in the presence of public servants and he was fined. The Returning Officer acted upon Zain Qureshi’s complaint about PML-N’s government officials campaigning in the constituency (PP-217 Multan).

He hoped that Pakistanis will not vote for notes while voters' buying and selling will worsen the situation in the country, he warned. He said US and Pakistan have celebrated 75 years of close relations. “Sometimes we were close allies of the US and sometimes not,” he said. “We have told the US that the decision in the national interest of the country would be acceptable,” he added. He congratulated Imran Khan for awakening the people and informed them that Imran will visit Multan on the 14th of July for which preparations are being completed.