ISLAMABAD   -   Former President Asif Ali Zardari yesterday said that the 18th Amendment – enhancing provincial autonomy - was despised by the anti-democratic thinking.

In a message on the 10th death anniversary of Begum Nusrat Bhutto, Zardari said the Pakistan People’s Party has a history of sacrifices. He paid homage to Nusrat Bhutto and said that she worked for the constitution, restoration of democracy and an empowered parliament. “Begum Sahiba endured severe difficulties, tragic grief and trauma in this historical struggle. By her endurance, a golden history has been created which shows that a leader should have the courage to sacrifice,” Zardari, who heads the PPP Parliamentarians, said. 

“The 18th Amendment is despised by the anti-democratic thinking. He said that the country is facing severe difficulties today as people are suffering from unemployment and economic misery. Decisions are being made outside the parliament,” he added.

The former president said that whenever the PPP leadership came to power, it did so through the support of the people. “That is why the future of the country and the nation is decided by the parliament,” he said.

Zardari said that when the PPP “comes to power again through the support of the people, it will give the country a free and dignified foreign policy. The parliament will make decisions in the interest of the country and the people.” 

Meanwhile, PPP Secretary General Nayyar Hussain Bukhari yesterday alleged the government of hoodwinking the people. “People can be misled by wrong statistics for some time. Prime Minister Imran Khan has turned a blind eye to the price hike,” he said.

Bukhari further said that the blindfold of power on the eyes of the rulers was about to come down soon and the departure of those who usurp constitutional economic and human rights was imminent. Bukhari said that the PPP had come out in the public against those who spread inflation, unemployment and lawlessness.

The PPP leader said that essential commodities were out of reach of the people and patients were being deprived of medicines. “Patients are deprived of the ability to buy life-saving medicines. Millions of families go far below the poverty line,” he claimed.

Bukhari said that under the ruthless rulers, the “supremacist class has not been able to maintain its illusion. False claimants have snatched the shelter of the people.”