SUKKUR: Pakistan Peoples Party’s veteran leader Syed Khursheed Ahmed Shah has advised Maulana Fazlur Rahman against allying with Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf and warned him that he will have to pay huge price for such a risky move.

Shah told media persons at his residence here late on Monday evening that Maulana was an experienced politician hence he should avoid entering into alliance with PTI as it would cost him both his image and politics and he would not be able to save his reputation after doing that.

He said the country was facing problems because parliament’s decisions were not implemented. The country’s development depended on enforcement of parliament’s decisions in letter and spirit but “we have been running away from the parliament for the past 15 years”, he said.

He said that everyone knew the country was going through difficult times. Only PPP’s tenure from 2008 to 2013 was a period of unusual prosperity and progress as the then government made several important decisions for the country despite hard times, he said.

Shah said that new paradigms for the budget should be prepared keeping in view current conditions in the country. Salaries of government servants should be raised by more than 30 per cent in the new budget and steps should be taken for better health and education services, he said.

“I do not know about the discussion regarding PPP’s joining central government,” he said in answer to a question. Yousuf Raza Gilani, the Senate Chairman, knew well about what he had said and he was the appropriate person to answer the question, he said.

Published in Dawn, May 29th, 2024