The entire party of ousted premier Imran Khan can fit in a rickshaw following large-scale defections from Pakistan’s main opposition party in the aftermath of the May 9 violence, the ruling PML-N’s senior leader Maryam Nawaz has said, in a jibe at the former primeminister.
“Today he is the president, general secretary, chief organiser and spokesperson of the party and the only candidate of his party,” Maryam, the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) Senior Vice President, said while addressing a youth convention in Shujaabad in Punjab province on Sunday.
Now the entire opposition party can fit in a “Qingqi rickshaw” following defections in the wake of the May 9 violence, she said, referring to a type of imported rickshaw in Pakistan.
Over 20 military installations and government buildings including the military headquarters in Rawalpindi were damaged or torched during the violent protests by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf workers following the arrest of Khan in a corruption case by the paramilitary Rangers last month. Khan was later released on bail.
Maryam said that Khan talked about his so-called political struggle of 26 years. “Let me tell you... his 26-year-long struggle took only 26 minutes to be dismantled. Now he will sit all alone in Zaman Park and all those leaders who quit him have gone from where they had come,” she said.
“Imran Khan tried his best to make the Pakistan Army surrender to his will after being removed from power through a parliamentary vote of no-confidence (in April last year) but his attempt backfired and now he is facing the music,” said Maryam, the daughter of three-time premier Nawaz Sharif.
She said Khan had revolted against the Pakistan Army by attacking its institutions on May 9.
“The chapter of chaos and anarchy has ended and now the journey of progress will begin,” the PML-N leader added.