Elections 2018 smashed two-party nexus, says PTI

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Communications and Postal Services Murad Saeed has said the 2018 general election smashed the two-party nexus of PML-N and PPP in the country.

Saeed’s comments come on the back of PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s press conference where he termed July 25, the day the PTI came into power as a “black day” in the country’s history and PML-N’s Ahsan Iqbal claims that if the 2018 election had not been stolen, his party would have won 120 seats

The federal minister said those who were challenging the legitimacy of the elected government should pick up a history book to find out how leaders such as Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif were introduced in politics.

“The people of Pakistan remember how [Zulfikar Ali] Bhutto got himself inducted in Sikander Mirza’s cabinet by writing a 'flattering' letter,” Saeed said. “Nawaz [Sharif] was launched by General Zia and Lt Gen Jeelani and Islami Jamhoori Ittihad were set up to bring him in power.”

Saeed added that PPP President Shehbaz Sharif was even today looking for ‘selectors’ to get a chance to become prime minister.

Speaking about the PTI’s struggle, Saeed said PM Imran founded PTI in 1996 and struggled for over 22 years before coming to power. “Imran Khan was offered premiership after 2002 elections, which he rejected,” the minister said, adding that the PTI came into power in KP in 2013 and in 2018 in Centre with the support of the masses who voted for the most popular politician of the country, Imran Khan.

Hitting out at Bilawal, the minister said former president Asif Ali Zardari's name was mentioned in the JIT reports of fake accounts and sugar scam, but his son was giving lectures on morality and righteousness.

“Every Pakistani knows that the funds allocated for health, education and other sectors of Sindh were transferred in the accounts of Asif Zardari and Faryal Talpur,” he remarked.

Saeed further said that after 50 years, Kashmir issue was raised in the UN Security Council twice during the last year which was proof that the Kashmir case had been successfully advocated by Prime Minister Imran Khan at the international forum.

Speaking about the PML-N government, Saeed said they were shy of mentioning the name of Kulbhushan Jadhav during their tenure. Asking the opposition to act responsibly if some legislation was being done in line with ICJ's rules, Saeed said it was the previous government which accepted the jurisdiction of the ICJ on the Indian spy case.

About his government’s achievement’s, Saeed said they announced the Ehsaas programme to support the poor segments of the society. He added that the budget of the Ehsaas programme has been enhanced from Rs192 billion to Rs208 billion this year and over 200 shelter homes were established across the country for the destitute.