- Says country will suffer potential consequences if any ‘selected Prime Minister’ is installed
- Questions how can parties have equal opportunities in presence of PML-N leaders in caretaker setup
LAHORE: Without explicitly naming the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N), senior Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Khursheed Shah on Friday said that the Prime Minister’s House continues to be in the hands of the same party which ruled before.
“The government will not work if someone is forcefully imposed on us to rule. If the (prime minister) is ‘selected,’ then the country will only suffer,” said Shah while speaking to media persons in Lahore.
He emphasized the importance of a democratically elected leader and expressed concerns about the potential consequences of a “selected” prime minister.
“The question is not that who will form electoral alliance with whom rather the need for free, fair and transparent electoral process to let the masses elect their future leadership,” the PPP stalwart pointed out, expressing apprehension about potential interference and the presence of PML-N leaders in the caretaker government.
Shah, while referring to PML-N’s electoral alliance with Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan (MQM-P), said that the PPP was contesting alone in the elections.
“The people of Punjab had shown their trust in PPP in the past,” said Shah, adding if there are any punctures in the elections, then there will be a lot of damage.
“There is no interference during the voting process around the world,” he said while calling for the restoration of democracy through voting in Pakistan.
Reiterating his party’s stance on level-playing field, the PPP leader wondered how can the parties have equal opportunities during the upcoming general elections when there are PML-N leaders in the incumbent caretaker government.
Shah further said that the political parties have the right to contest elections separately or in alliance with other parties. “Every party wants that prime minister is elected from their party,” he added.
Speaking about the Israel-Gaza conflict which saw the deaths of over 10,000 Palestinians at the hands of Israeli troops, the PPP leader said that the caretaker government should raise its voice on the issue.
“The helplessness of Muslim states on the matter of Israel is visible clearly,” he added.
The caretaker government must speak out on the matter and realize the world of the responsibility to give Palestinian people their birth right and protection against Zionists aggression. His remarks shed light on broader international concerns and the role of Pakistan’s government in addressing global issues.
Overall, Shah’s comments underscore the complex challenges and competing interests within Pakistan’s political landscape, reflecting the ongoing tensions and the need for transparent and equitable governance.
