ISLAMABAD - Pakistan People’s Party chief Bilawal Bhutto Zardari yesterday said that results of Senate polls were of secondary importance now as the Pakistan Democratic Alliance had already achieved the desired resuslts. Speaking to journalists here, he congratulated the nation on the “success” of the PDM’s efforts to dislodge government and said “whatever is to be achieved tomorrow (March 3) will be a bonus.”
Bilawal said the goal of movement of opposition was to restore democracy and to raise the issues of the people. “This government is not solving any of the issues faced by the people of Pakistan; it is not even solving the issues of its own members and allies. (Prime Minister) Imran Khan is perplexed now that he is going home. We have been successful which is why the government is running a campaign of character assassination. Imran Khan cannot control his own members,” he said.
Bilawal said the PDM members will get up early in the morning and will cast votes early. “We are contesting the Senate elections on political relations. We are not using money to get votes. In fact, the government’s members are talking to media channels and admitting that MNAs (members of the National Assembly) have been promised Rs 50 crores by Imran Khan in the parliamentary party meeting of PTI. Imran Khan is using state money for his own politics. We are succeeding in getting the vote of conscience from PTI and its allies,” he added.
The PPP chief said when the question of Imran Khan using state money was asked for his political gains, the Supreme Court then did not stop Imran Khan from doing so, rather the judge who raised the question was stopped from performing his duties. “Just today, they tortured their own members in the Sindh Assembly because they had openly said that they will not vote for the PTI (Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf) candidates because they had been awarded party tickets on the basis of money. We will give you good news tomorrow (March 3),” he remarked. Bilawal said the PTI was threatening their own members and trying to keep them in line. He asked Prime Minister Imran Khan why he was so panicked about the situation.
“He (Imran Khan) is panicking because he has become aware that he has lost the confidence of not only the people of Pakistan but also of his own members. Now, there is no place to escape for Imran Khan,” he contended. Yusuf Raza Gillani is contesting against current Finance Minister Hafeez Sheikh for a general seat.
Meanwhile, PPP Secretary General Nayyar Bokhari said the constitution had won before the Senate polls. In a statement, he said the Supreme Court’s opinion regarding the Senate polls was historic. “Even before a single vote has been cast, the constitution has won. We believe in the supremacy of the constitution. Our candidate will win in the senate elections tomorrow (March 3),” he claimed.