Pakistan Peoples Party's (PPP) rival parties in Sindh remained unimpressed by the announcement of former president Asif Ali Zardari that he and his son Bilawal Bhutto Zardari will contest by-elections to become part of parliament. Asif Ali Zardari has missed his chance to revive his party by launching a movement against the ruling party, PML-N, and playing a role of vibrant opposition in the country, they stated.
Waseem Aftab, a member of Pak Sarzameen Party, told Business Recorder, that Asif Zardari failed to bring any improvement in the lives of the people during the party's five years tenure in the centre and consecutive second-term in Sindh province. "People are fed up with the traditional parties and leadership. They are now looking up to parties like the PSP and PTI for improving the quality of life," he said, adding that Zardari and Bilawal should spend their time and energy to improve the life of the people of Sindh instead of contesting by-elections.
Aftab also questioned as to what change Asif Zardari is planning to bring in parliament by becoming its member. "People don't care whether Asif Zardari and Bilawal are part of the parliament or not," he said, accusing the two of hoodwinking the people through their announcement but failing. Senator Syed Muzaffar Hussain Shah of Pakistan Muslim League-Functional stated that Asif Zardari and his son have never talked about the plight of people in Sindh, especially interior Sindh where people do not have basic facilities like clean drinking water.
"Asif Zardari may gain nothing by becoming a member of the National Assembly except perhaps increase his bargaining power with the federal government," he said. He advised the PPP leadership to focus more on Sindh if they want to remain relevant in the next elections. Ghulam Murtaza Jatoi, a member of National People's Party, advised Chairman and Co-Chairman of the PPP to "first struggle to bring transparency and merit in Sindh, then talk about the rest of the country," adding that Zardari has also effectively overshadowed Bilawal and this would only result in more loss of support for the party.
Senator Tahir Mashhadi of Muttahida Qaumi Movement, however, said that Asif Zardari has been playing his cards wisely and wants to strengthen parliament by becoming its member.
"He is a master of reconciliation and would definitely use the floor of the parliament to his party's benefit," he said, adding that he would have to come down hard on the federal government too if he wants to make inroads in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the next elections. Mashhadi further stated that all movements against the government should start from parliament and Asif Zardari had always supported this approach.
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