Imran won’t be seen in next elections: Khursheed Shah

SUKKUR: Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Syed Khursheed Ahmed Shah has said that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif should submit his resignation prior to the announcement of the Supreme Court verdict in the Panama case. He said that assemblies should complete their tenure. 

The Pakistan People’s Party leader further added that the matter would remain limited to disqualification and then cases could be sent to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) for criminal proceedings. Shah said, “Nawaz Sharif will not go home alone, but Imran Khan will also go home.” He said that similar cases were against Imran Khan and Imran Khan would certainly be disqualified after Nawaz Sharif. He said that Imran won't be seen in next elections like Nawaz Sharif 

Talking to the media here on Saturday, Khursheed Shah termed stubbornness of the Pakistan Muslim League--Nawaz (PML-N) leaders behind their current miseries.

He said Nawaz has no time, asking the ruling party to bring new prime minister. He reiterated that the PPP desired continuity of democracy in Pakistan and the party would not support any step to dissolve assemblies. He suggested the PML-N to save democracy by naming replacement of Nawaz Sharif as prime minister.

Shah said that unprecedented remarks were given by judges during hearing of Panama Leaks case and said that gone are the days when rulers could attack courts.

While accusing the government of saving Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan former chairman Zafar Hijazi, Shah called for comprehensive probe to unearth names on whose directives Hijazi altered records. He said that an FIR should also be registered against the person for whom Hijazi did record tampering.

Shah accused the PML-N of deceiving state institutions with moves like Dawn Leaks. We never fought with institutions while rendered sacrifices for democracy, added Shah.

Khursheed Shah said that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif should decide to step down from his post by tonight. Shah stated that the PML-N should choose a new prime minister from the party.

“We want the parliament to continue working and the PML-N to complete its tenure,” Shah

said, adding that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif should select a new premier to lead the country.

The opposition leader said he agreed with Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar’s objections. “[My] differences with Nisar aside; his objections are correct that Nawaz Sharif consulted with the junior members of his party and ignored the senior leadership,” Shah said, adding that whether Nisar decides to resign or not is the minister’s decision to make. He said that Chaudhry Nisar has no trust in the government and government too has no trust in Chaudhry Nisar.

Shah said it is not just Nawaz Sharif who will be going, but Imran Khan will also go with him. Shah alleged that Nawaz Sharif is the production of the establishment, adding that Nawaz Sharif and his aides have faced some difficulties for the democracy and Nawaz Sharif remained in exile and enjoyed life there. “However, he should make decision in two days to step down,” he said. 

He said Nawaz Sharif should address the people and should take decision prior to the announcement of decision by the Supreme Court. Shah said that we want continuity of parliament, adding that the new prime minister should come and government should complete its tenure. 

He said all bar councils and lawyers have demanded the resignation from the prime minister. He said two senior judges have already disqualified him.

Shah said that there is no matter of bargaining and the case is crystal and transparent. He said in such cases, 35 parliamentarians have already been given punishments and were disqualified, adding that there is also problem of Aqama for Nawaz Sharif. He said the PPP has staged protests for 50 years and it has no need of PTI or any other party for staging protest.

He said the PPP will act according to the law and Constitution over Panama Leaks decision.—Agencies 

News Desk adds:  Talking to Anchorperson Salim Safi in Geo News programme 'Jirga' on Saturday, Khursheed Shah said that Imran Khan declared his assets but did not declare the transaction of money. He said the PTI chief also did not declare donations which he received from whom, from where these came and why these were sent and more details would be surfaced in this regard, he added.

Khursheed Shah assured that Imran would not be seen in next elections like Nawaz Sharif 

Our correspondent adds from Karachi: Pakistan People’s Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has said that the Joint Investigation Team’s (JIT) report has proved that they [prime minister and his family] have committed corruption forgery, perjury, and made attempt to subvert justice which are all crimes of serious nature.

He said this while addressing the inauguration ceremony of Shaheed Munawar Suharwardi Underpass constructed on Shahrah-e-Faisal on the Drigh Road intersection on Saturday.

He said that the JIT report had been revealed in which it has been proved that they [PM and his family] had committed serious crimes of fraud, forgery, perjury and have also attempted to subvert justice.

“Now we are waiting for the verdict of the Supreme Court,” he said and hoped justice would be done in this case. The PPP chairman on the occasion raised the slogans, “Muk gaya tera show Nawaz, Go Nawaz Go Nawaz” (Nawaz your show has come to an end and now you have to go). The activists of the Pakistan People’s Party present on the event zealously responded to his slogans.

The chairman said that he was very happy to inaugurate the underpass named after late PPP leader Munawar Suharwardi. “He was a big person in the politics of Karachi and in the Pakistan People’s Party. Munawar Suharwardi rendered a lot of sacrifices for the restoration of democracy in Pakistan,” he said.

He said that the PPP was constructing underpasses, overhead bridges and roads in the city. “Now the problem of cleanliness of the city is also being addressed,” he said and added that whatever development had been carried out in the city has been done by the PPP whether it be the tenure of Shaheed Bhutto or Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto or Asif Ali Zardari and of the incumbent chief minister.

Bilawal Bhutto said that his government in Sindh would be serving people of Karachi sincerely and with dedication.

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah while addressing on the occasion announced to reconstruct Drigh Road Flyover. “I think its alignment is defective, therefore it would be reconstructed with a new alignment,” he said.

He congratulated the people of Karachi who elected Saeed Ghani from the constituency of Sindh Assembly PS-114. “It is because of your confidence and support that the PPP had won election from Malir and this was because we serve you to the best of our capacity and ability,” he said.

He apologised to the people of Karachi for the hardships caused due to the construction work for the underpass at the Drigh Road intersection.

“Again you would also face the same problems when the Drigh Road Flyover would be reconstructed,” he said.

Murad Ali Shah said that the portion of Shahrah-e-Faisal from Metropole to Airport would be reconstructed shortly while the portion of road from the Karachi Airport to Steel Mill would be ready by the end of next month. “Again, I would bother the chairman to inaugurate them,” he said.

He said that a debate on social media had been started that the newly constructed Munawar Suharwardi Underpass had no drainage system.

“I am clarifying to everyone that the underpass has an efficient drainage system and rainwater would not accumulate inside it,” he said.

On the complaint of some of the party workers, the chief minister said that he would remove the officers who were found lethargic and inefficient in completing the development continued in the city. As far as the quality is concerned, he said he was himself monitoring it.

Syed Murad Ali Shah said that on the instruction of party President Asif Zardari and Chairman PPP Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, the Sindh government of the PPP would be serving people of Sindh. He hoped that in 2018 election the PPP would emerge as the largest political party in Karachi.

Earlier, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari unveiled the plaque to inaugurate the underpass constructed at the cost of Rs660 million within a period of less than four months.