News Desk |
On Monday, former President Asif Ali Zardari claimed that the Prime Minister Imran Khan-led government will be dismissed in the next four to five months.
Addressing the press in the parliament house, the Pakistan People’s Party Chief Asif Ali Zardari said, “Imran’s government is counting its last days but it will not be dismissed by simply pushing a button. It will be dismissed after a political struggle and our agitation is ongoing. The government will be deposed before November.”
Zardari visited the Parliament House to attend the National Assembly Standing Committee on Industries and Production, after Committee Chairman Sajid Turi issued his production orders.
Zardari claimed that given PML-N’s majority in the Senate, it is highly likely that the new Chairman Senate will be elected from their party.
Speaking to the press in the cafeteria of the National Assembly, Zardari added, “I believe the ouster of the incumbent government will take four to five months, and the opposition is working on a joint-strategy to dismiss it before November 2019.”
Future of Pak: Maryam & Bilawal
Zardari stressed that a civilian government will be ushered in, and time will tell whether the new government is an all-party alliance or elections will be staged to select the leadership.
Zardari said that he considers the Imran-led government as a “civil martial law” and outlined that Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Maryam Nawaz are the leaders of the future. He said, “The future now belongs to Maryam Nawaz and Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. Maryam is like my daughter, and we will keep guiding these youngsters with our suggestions.”
Raising the issue of foreign loans, Asif Ali Zardari said that the federal government is taking a foreign loan of $30 billion, which is a grave cause for concern. Zardari said, “Our finance minister is not in control of the situation. The value of dollar is constantly on the rise and we fear that it will reach 200 rupees very soon.”
Read more: PML-N, PPP join hands to remove Senate chairman
Referring to the loans obtained from global financial institutions like the IMF, World Bank and the Asian Development Bank, Zardari added, “We normally obtain loans from China and other friendly countries, but the incumbent government is obtaining loans from entities that are likely to cease our planes and even take control of our embassies.”
Zardari claimed that given PML-N’s majority in the Senate, it is highly likely that the new Chairman Senate will be elected from their party.
Admitting the mistakes committed by his own party and party leaders, Zardari retorted, “Imran Khan is the gift of our political mistakes.” Zardari stressed that the political actors will be careful in not repeating these mistakes that led the country to this point.
Speaking on the matter of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s health, Zardari said that from the very first day, he had been saying that Nawaz Sharif’s health is deteriorating and he should at least be placed under house arrest.
Zardari said that Prime Minister Imran Khan has ties with a company based in London, and currently the authorities are registering cases against the company and its CEO, who has secured his bail after paying 30 million pounds.
Zardari said, “Denying the issuance of production orders is not a part of parliamentary traditions. It is likely that this will be my last production order but I am confident that 2020 will mark a progressive year for Pakistan.”
Civilian Martial Law?
Asif Ali Zardari stated that the country is witnessing a civilian martial law, and time will decide whether an all-parties leadership will dismantle this government or a new election will be ushered in.
Terming the government as a “mini-martial law”, Zardari said that the manner in which politicians and journalists are being targeted makes the government much like a martial law administration. Responding to a question on why his television interview with Hamid Mir was stopped, Zardari said that he had discussed Imran Khan’s “London scandal”.
Read more: Will opposition bring down government?
Zardari said that Prime Minister Imran Khan has ties with a company based in London, and currently the authorities are registering cases against the company and its CEO, who has secured his bail after paying 30 million pounds. Zardari said, “The incumbent government was going to take a loan of around $30 billion, which raises a great many concerns.”