Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Khursheed Shah has raised serious concerns over the transparency of up-coming general elections, claiming that all political parties are not being provided with an equal opportunity.
With speaking to the media in Karachi on Monday, the former leader of the opposition in the National Assembly referred to Hanif Abbasi’s life imprisonment just three days before the elections, saying, “Disqualify them, lock them up, and hand the election to Sheikh Rasheed.”
“I’ve my political differences with PML-N, but I take exception to the judgment against him Abbasi,” he said. “The message we’re given is that he was disqualified to hand the election to Sheikh Rasheed,” Shah said.
Referring to former prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s conviction in the Avenfield case, he said that court’s decision coincided with this week’s general elections. “Even his [Nawaz’s] bail hearing has been fixed after July 25,” he added.
The PPP leader also criticised the reopened of old cases against PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari ahead of polls. Fearing further occurrence of similar events in the days of come, Shah said that verdicts like these have adversely affect reputation of July 25 polls.
The court should issue a stay order over Abbasi’s verdict and allow him to contest the election on Wednesday.
