LAHORE: Former prime minister and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) vice chairman Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani says the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) built a “false and anti-state” narrative and become a security risk, demanding the government to probe the issue.

“Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif should launch an investigation against PTI over its anti-state and false narrative,” the PPP leader and former premier demanded while addressing a press conference along with Pakistan Seraiki Party (PSP) office-bearers at Multan Press Club on Saturday. PSP chairperson Nukhbah Langah, central president Allah Nawaz Wains and secretary general Akbar Ansari were also present.

On the occasion, the PSP announced unconditional support to the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) candidate and Mr Gilani’s son Syed Ali Musa in the by-elections to be held in NA-157, Multan.

Mr Gilani alleged the PTI was playing with the fate of the country and indulged in “anti-state” activities for its own interests, demanding action should be taken against Imran Khan as per law because his so-called narrative regarding the US cipher had been exposed.

He said actually the PTI was an “imported party” because it had been proved the party was created with foreign funding.

Mr Gilani said the PDM government had saved the country from bankruptcy by taking some tough decisions and put Pakistan on the way to progress and prosperity.

To a question about inflation, he stated the government was taking steps to reduce inflation and decrease the dollar’s exchange rate, terming the decline in oil prices a good sign.

He hoped the new finance minister (Ishaq Dar) would also take steps to provide relief to the masses in electricity bills.

He said the PPP was the only political party which had raised its voice and took steps for creating a Seraiki province and ending the deprivation of the region. He said PPP co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari was the first president who talked about creation of Seraiki province.

“The previous [PTI] government could have created the province, but it was only creating confusion by first establishing the [south Punjab] secretariat without creating a province,” he said.Mr Gilani said a single province could be created in the Seraiki region because in case of two provinces, 50 Senate seats would have to be allocated for each, that was not feasible.

Mr Gilani said though creation of Seraiki province was included in the manifestos of every political party, but the previous government did not take any step to pass a bill in this regard by creating consensus on the issue in the parliament.

Rejected the PTI’s demand for an early elections, he said it was not possible because of the recent floods in the country. “How could elections be held when the Rangers and army were busy in rehabilitation of the flood-affected people,” he asked.

He said it was his party’s idea to oust the PTI government through a no-confidence move, while other opposition parties wanted to resign from the assemblies and demand early elections.

PSP chairperson Ms Langah also announced to support Ali Musa Gilani in NA-157 by-elections.

Published in Dawn, October 2nd, 2022