LAHORE: Former Awami National Party president Ehsan Wyne has criticised the Pakistan Peoples Party leadership for making further democratic struggle conditional with the return of ex-prime minister Nawaz Sharif.

“The statement attributed to PPP Co-Chairperson Asif Ali Zardari that he demanded in the Pakistan Democratic Movement’s meeting homecoming of PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif to further democratic struggle against non-democratic forces supports the narrative of Imran Khan and the establishment.”

In a statement, Mr Wyne said that through this demand the PPP interfered in the internal affairs of another political party. He said as the PPP had right to decide whether or not to resign from the assemblies, similarly the PML-N or any other political party had the right to decide which leader it should pitch where and when.

He said Mr Sharif was fighting against undemocratic forces not because of any personal vendetta but for seeking right to rule for those elected by the people through a fair and transparent electoral process and that all state institutions should work within their constitutional framework.

This stance, Mr Wyne said, should be supported by all democratic forces.

Not happy at giving all credit to the PPP for the 18th amendment, he said it was the ANP, its leaders and workers who had suffered a lot for their struggle against One Unit and to seek provincial autonomy for the federating units.

Published in Dawn, March 22nd, 2021