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Former president and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari on Thursday stated that the coalition government at the Centre had decided to table no-confidence motions in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa assemblies, claiming that he has ‘enough numbers’ in both legislatures.
In an interview with a private TV channel, Zardari said that the motions would be tabled “everywhere”. “We have seats even in K-P… some of our friends have wandered off but we will bring them back. They won’t have to resign because of the solution we’ll provide,” he added.
Ruling out early elections in the country, the former president said that it will not suit them or democracy.
“It is too early and immature to make any predictions regarding the elections. I don’t believe the establishment will be able to compel us into early elections,” he remarked.
He, however, also stated that if the PTI was successful in dissolving the provincial assemblies, the coalition parties would contest the elections. “I’ll see how many MPAs Imran [Khan] can secure,” he added.
The former president asserted that he had enough numbers in Punjab to overthrow the government of Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi.
He admitted that cracks between CM Elahi and them had widened, ruling out any possibility of contacting the PML-Q leader again.
“Gave them (PML-Q) 17 ministries and made him (Elahi) deputy prime minister but this time they opted out themselves,” he reasoned, adding that they had ‘better choices’ now.
Answering a query regarding the appointment of Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir, Zardari said that he was selected as he was the senior most and his name was sent by the institution.
“[Prime Minister] Shehbaz is a good person. He could have chosen the COAS without calling us but he did. I urged him to exercise his constitutional authority and informed him that we are your allies and that you have our permission to exercise your constitutional rights.”
The PPP chief said that he could defeat PTI chief Imran Khan in “any constituency”. “He is making full payments but we will hold him accountable,” he remarked.
Zardari said that if Imran did sell the watch from Toshakhana then a case would automatically be registered against him. However, added that he did not know about any wrongdoings of the former prime minister.
