ISLAMABAD - Pakistan People’s Party believes ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s only ideology was corruption and betrayal.

Over the weekend, Nawaz Sharif had claimed he was an ideology within himself and vowed to bring a revolution.

Sharif, while addressing a political rally in Abbottabad, said: “Some elements do not know that Nawaz Sharif is the name of an ideology. This ideology will bring a revolution.”

PPP Secretary-General Nayyar Bokhari, while speaking to The Nation here said Nawaz Sharif was trying to compare himself with Zulfikar Ali Bhutto but was not ready to sacrifice anything.

“The only reputation he has earned after decades of staying in power is corruption. Nawaz Sharif means corruption and corruption means Nawaz Sharif.”

Bokhari, the former Senate chairman, said Nawaz Sharif had no future and was making “false claims” to remain relevant. “Nawaz Sharif cannot become an ‘ideology’ by organising rallies. He has been disqualified by the court and only a court can clear him. Public slogans cannot give him a new life,” he said.

Nawaz Sharif, disqualified as prime minister in July, was later re-elected unopposed as the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz president for four years in the intra-party elections. Sharif was earlier removed as the party chief by the Election Commission of Pakistan after his disqualification as the premier by the Supreme Court. The PML-N bulldozed the Election Bill 2017 in the parliament to ensure Sharif’s election as the party chief. The opposition parties, led by the PPP, are all set to table Elections (Amendment) Bill 2017 in National Assembly on November 21 (today). The bill bars a disqualified person from becoming party’s chairperson. The Senate adopted the bill with 49 votes in favour and 18 votes against, last month.

The opposition parties have been condemning Sharif’s election as the PML-N chief, saying a disqualified person should not lead a party, especially the ruling party. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf has threatened to challenge the new law in the Supreme Court as it contradicted the articles 62 and 63 of the constitution.

PPP Information Secretary Chaudhry Manzoor Ahmed said Sharif had become an “ideology” under the “doctrine of necessity”.

“Nawaz Sharif has no other option but to become an ideology. He is invoking the doctrine of necessity. Nawaz Sharif wants to remain relevant and he is struggling to achieve this goal. The people are not ready to accept him as a clean person,” he told The Nation.

Ahmed said the ousted premier had lost the public support and was hoodwinking the people. “He is not touching the real issues. He has been disqualified for hiding his assets. He has corruption cases against him and he is trying to defend it in public rallies. The best option for him is to get [a] clean chit from the courts,” he added.

Meanwhile, PPP Women’s Wing President Faryal Talpur said that the PPP Founding Day public gathering in Islamabad on December 5 will prove that the PPP was a big political force in the past and continues to be the biggest political force today.

Speaking to the office bearers of PPP Women’s Wing Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa here at a meeting, she said Benazir Bhutto suffered hardships, incarceration, and torture for democracy and constitution. Talpur said former president Asif Ali Zardari gave identity to the people of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.

She said the PPP was striving for a Pakistan free of poverty and ignorance. “PPP will create a society where women will be emancipated and will participate in every field. Civilised societies have important role for women and [the] PPP desires to give representation to women in every field,” Talpur added.

She said Zulfikar Ali Bhutto had “once again emerged in the shape of Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.”

Talpur contended: “Like Benazir Bhutto, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari is a symbol of federation. The PPP will win next general elections and will form governments in [the] centre and [the] four provinces.”

Senator Rubina Khalid, Nighat Orakzai and Shazia Tehmas also attended the meeting.