LAHORE: Former president Asif Ali Zardari on Saturday said he would not shake hand with the Sharif brothers this time round, alleging they twice planned his murder in the past.

“The Sharif brothers twice planned my murder in captivity in 1990s...but by God’s will they could not succeed,” Mr Zardari was quoted as having said by PPP information secretary Chaudhry Manzoor.

Before leaving for Karachi on Saturday, he held a meeting with the party leaders at Bilawal House and told them to work hard as not much time was left before the general election.

Talking to them, Mr Zardari reiterated ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif had been trying to make a contact with him to seek his support but “I have refused”. “I have not yet forgotten what they (Sharifs) have done to Bibi Benazir and me. We forgave them and got along in ARD and signed Charter of Democracy, but still Mian sahib betrayed me and went to court in memogate in order to label me a traitor,” Zardari said.

Recently real estate tycoon Malik Riaz called on Mr Sharif at his Jati Umra residence and there were reports that he was given a message for Zardari for “extending help”.

Mr Zardari further told his party men that it was very difficult to take the Sharif brother along. “They change colour so quickly. When they are in trouble they are ready to cooperate with you.... when in absolute power they hit you smartly,” Chaudhry Manzoor quoted Mr Zardari as saying.

Mr Zardari made it clear to the party leaders to forget an alliance with the PML-N after 2018 election. “We will be on strong footing after next year poll,” he added.

Published in Dawn, October 22nd, 2017