Those switching loyalties would not get tickets in PTI, says Zardari

MARO: Former President Asif Ali Zardari has said that if he had not empowered the parliament during his presidential tenure, the incumbent prime minister [Nawaz Sharif] would have opted to become president for life, ARY News reported on Saturday.

Addressing a political convention in Maro, Zardari said that the premier had attended only four sessions of the assembly in last four years since winning the majority in the house.

Former president in a veiled reference said that those who are switching loyalties, were rotten eggs. Even the PTI will not issue party tickets to them, he said.

Coming down hard on the premier, he said that such a precedent would only lead to worst attendance in Assembly sessions by future leaders. “Politics required farseeing and decisions that impose long lasting impacts,” he opined.

He further said it was his presidential tenure during which the trade ties with China flourished.

Pointing out the country’s deteriorating foreign relations, Zardari stressed the need of appointing a regular foreign minister. “Despite the recent critical situation, the premier has not taken any measure to address it rather being busy in playing with pets at Murree,” the former president alleged.

He also highlighted the issue of Kashmir, saying Pakistan was pursuing the cause of Kashmir not because of its territory expansion plans but because this cause is very close to the heart of the nation.