Shaukat Basra apologises to PTI voters and supporters

Hours after joining Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), former Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Shaukat Basra on Thursday night apologised to all PTI supporters and voters if his past statements hurt them in any manner.

Speaking exclusively to ARY News, the former PPP leader said that he joined PTI for he found Imran Khan’s three-month performance better than most of Pakistan’s former premiers and is genuinely impressed by his resolve against corruption.

“Can you name a single premier who questioned his ministers about their performance in first three months, is there a single example in the past.” said Shaukat Basra while explaining his decision to join the ruling party.

Answering a question about his criticism of PTI in the past, Basra said that he apologises to all the voters and supporters of the party if his past statements hurt them.

About reasons to leave PPP after years of loyal attachment, Basra said that party is now only limited to Sindh province and has no presence whatsoever in Punjab.

When asked about his criticism of Firdous Ashiq Awan and other leaders who left PPP, he maintained that he is still against this culture of leaving parties for personal gains but he himself cannot be termed a ‘turncoat’.

“I haven’t joined PTI to gain a ministry or a party post, my conscience wasn’t allowing me not to side with a man who is fighting against corruption,” said Basra.

A PPP loyalist for years, Shaukat Basra joined PTI on Thursday after a meeting with Prime Minister Imran Khan and senior party leader Jahangir Khan Tareen.