Vehari: Former president and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari slammed former prime minister and PTI chief Imran Khan, accusing him of being habitually prone to taking U-turns, a trait that Zardari strongly disapproves of.

In a media talk in Vehari yesterday, Zardari claimed that he could talk to all political leaders except for Imran Khan because of his penchant for taking U-turns. He added that Imran Khan had done a few things as a prime minister that needed to be stopped, and had he not been stopped, he would have “sold more institutions”. As rumours regarding differences between Pakistan Peoples' Party and Pakistan Democratic Movement intensify, former President Asif Ali Zardari who is also co-Chairman of party ruled out possibility of contesting next elections for an alliance with ruling coalition.

Addressing press conference in Vehari, PPP co-Chairman made it clear that PPP would contest next elections on "Arrow" symbol and not for an alliance with ruling PDM. "We are not part of PDM, but we are their partners in government," PPP stalwart said ahead of general polls in Punjab which are scheduled to be held on April 30. PPP is seemingly at crossheads with PDM-led government over governance and economic issues as country is witnessing historic inflation and reeling from damage caused by cataclysmic floods.

Zardari also ruled out talks with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan and said that Imran Khan is not politician. In response to question about police's attempt to arrest PTI Chief and whether he was consulted, Zardari said, "It is prerogative of Interior Minister, why would he consult me?"

Zardari expressed his reservations about ongoing digital census saying that PPP had its own opinion about matter. Regarding recent remarks made by his son Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari about quitting government, Zardari dismissed them as an outburst of youthful anger. He added that Bilawal was young man who gets angry quickly, whereas he himself was used to enduring anger.

Published in The Daily National Courier, March, 07 2023

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