PDM has practically died without PPP: Qamar Zaman Kaira

LAHORE: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) senior leader and former federal information minister Qamar Zaman Kaira said on Tuesday that Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) is practically finished as PPP was its real strength and assured that the party would emerge victorious in the NA-133 polls on December 5.

Kaira, while addressing the press conference after his visit to PPP’s central election office for NA-133, recalled that when PPP was part of the PDM it was winning elections and had managed to bag Senate and other seats and Imran Khan was begging his allies and others for the vote of confidence.

“If PML-N would have agreed this government would have been sent packing a long time ago,” he said.

“If PML-N is sincere about its slogan of sanctity of vote then it should not indulge in backdoor contacts. It is about time that backdoor contacts should end from the country’s politics,” Kaira said.

He alleged that PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif is not loyal to his slogan of sanctity of vote and voters.

He stressed that the only way out is to get rid of the sitting Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government but also alleged that when PPP calls for bringing a no-confidence motion against PM Imran Khan and CM Usman Buzdar, PML-N backs out saying the government should complete its five-year tenure.

He claimed that the PPP would emerge victorious in the next general elections.

“Politics is not about playing with majority candidates. We could bring the no-confidence motion if all parties are on the same page,” Kaira said.

He maintained that PPP already brought up the no-confidence motion issue even before the Jahangir Khan Tareen group emerged. “We are democratic people and don’t believe in horse-trading,” he said.

“I believe that extremism is becoming prominent and freely practiced in this country now and it seems that a new religious alliance is in the making. All of us believe in religion but using it to come to power is not right,” Kaira added.

The former federal minister said that it is about time that the state institutions decide how they want the government to run in light of the Constitution or by instigating the religious sentiments of the people.

“What will be the result of the farrago they are making,” Kaira asked.

He further said that negotiating with extremists would lead to more extremism.

The PPP leader said that there are two narratives prevalent within the PML-N and what is their reconciliation narrative,” he asked adding we talk about practical things and welcome PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto’s decision to field PPP loyalist Aslam Gill from NA-133.

“Aslam Gill stayed with PPP through thick and thin and will serve the people of this constituency with complete devotion after winning the elections on December 5,” he said.