Zardari Calls for Reconciliation for Economic Reforms in Pakistan, Invites PTI to Join Efforts

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari said there is need for an all-in political reconciliation process with participation from Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to bring about economic reforms in Pakistan which is suffering from an economic crisis.

Zardari’s comments came during a multi-party news conference in Islamabad on Tuesday which was also attended by Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) (PML-N) president Shehbaz Sharif, Muttahida Qaumi Movement – Pakistan (MQM-P) convener Dr Khalid Maqool Siddiqui, Pakistan Muslim League – (Quaid) chief Chaudhry Shujaat as well as Istehkam-e-Party (IPP) president Abdul Aleem Khan. He invited PTI to become part of the process.

“Everyone has to be on board with the ‘economic agenda’ for the broader interest of the nation,” Zardari was quoted as saying by The News. Zardari earlier on Tuesday pulled himself out of the candidacy for the prime minister’s post stating his party would back PML-N’s candidate.

It should be noted that neither the PML-N, nor the PPP or even the PTI managed to secure as many votes to form a government in the centre. PTI-backed independents managed to win most seats but did not have the required majority. PML-N and PPP as well as the IPP and MQM-P decided to come together to form the government.

“It is a fact that the PPP does not have a mandate to form the federal government and due to that I will not be putting myself forward for the candidacy of the prime minister of Pakistan. We have decided to form a coalition government [to] steer the country out of the [prevailing] crises. We don’t want to see chaos in the country or perpetual crisis in the country. We want the process of government formation to move ahead. If the people of the country had given me the mandate, I would ask for the PM’s post,” Zardari said.

Meanwhile, jailed PTI founder Imran Khan warned the parties against forming a government with a stolen mandate. “Such daylight robbery will not only be a disrespect to the citizens, but will also push the country’s economy further into a downward spiral,” Khan said in a social media post.