KARACHI: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and his father PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari threatened on Thursday to launch a protest march to the capital to topple the government of Prime Minister Imran Khan.
The leaders were speaking on the occasion of the 40th death anniversary of the PPP’s founder, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, in Garhi Khuda Bakhsh in Sindh province.
“It is time for us to march toward Islamabad and oust them [the government],” Zardari said. “I don’t want to do this because I want to be in government; [it is because] he [Prime Minister Khan] has already taken the country 50 years back. If we allow him to remain, he will take us 100 years back.”
Bilawal also spoke on the occasion and warned Khan against repealing the 18th Amendment which was passed in 2010 and empowered the prime minister and parliament and devolved powers to provincial governments.
“Those who are sitting in the Prime Minister’s Office have become a symbol of arrogance,” he said. “Those who are parading the idea of Naya (new) Pakistan should first understand the foundations of the old Pakistan.”
“Since PTI has come to power, they have done nothing with sincerity, except lying,” Bilawal added. “There is a tsunami of inflation.”
Political analysts said the harsh tone of the PPP leaders would not have much effect on Khan’s administration as it was still backed by the military establishment, which exerts great control over the running of the government in Pakistan.
“Although there is no immediate threat to the PTI’s government due to strong backing of the establishment, Imran Khan’s party is certainly in trouble, due to its own problems,” Karachi-based analyst Saeed Khawar said.
Surging fuel prices and inflation, at its highest in more than five years, has shocked many Pakistanis who voted for Khan and his promise to eradicate poverty, create jobs and build an Islamic welfare state.
Zardari is facing a plethora of money laundering cases before Pakistan courts and observers said the threats of a protest march might be a way to pressurize Khan’s government into backing down.
“The PPP leaders have taken this opportunity to pressurize the PTI government, which wants to pursue corruption cases against Zardari,” Khawar said.
Major opposition party threatens march to the capital to topple Pakistan government
Major opposition party threatens march to the capital to topple Pakistan government
- PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari says Khan had “taken the country 50 years back”
- PPP leader Bilawal Bhutto Zardari warns the government against repealing 18th amendment that granted autonomy to the provinces
Saudi Arabia condemns deadly mosque bombing in Pakistan’s capital
- The Kingdom rejects targeting of places of worship, expresses solidarity with Pakistan
- Saudi foreign ministry offers condolences to victims’ families, wishes injured recovery
ISLAMABAD: Saudi Arabia on Friday condemned the suicide bombing that targeted a mosque in Islamabad, expressing solidarity with Pakistan after the attack killed and injured dozens on the outskirts of the capital.
The blast, which struck during Friday prayers, killed at least 31 people and wounded more than 160 others, according to Pakistani authorities.
In a statement issued by its foreign ministry, Saudi Arabia denounced the targeting of a place of worship and rejected all forms of violence and extremism.
“The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia expresses its strong condemnation and denunciation of the terrorist bombing that targeted a mosque in the capital of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Islamabad,” the statement said.
It added that the Kingdom stood firmly against attacks on civilians and places of worship and reaffirmed its support for Pakistan in confronting militant violence.
The ministry also extended condolences to the families of those killed and expressed sympathy with the Pakistani government and people, wishing the wounded a speedy recovery.
No militant group has so far claimed responsibility for the attack, which Pakistani officials say is being investigated.
