RAWALPINIDI – Former Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Thursday said that the current election in Pakistan became purposeless and would not yield anything beyond creating a chaos in the country.
Khaqan Abbasi said that institutions like NAB (National Accountability Bureau) and anti-corruption offices are being used only to manipulate and disrupt elections and politics.
He expressed these words while talking to the reporters in Rawalpindi on Thursday.
Abbasi was accused of embezzlement in the Murree road projects and Ghora Gali project by the Anti-Corruption Office.
He mentioned being accused of awarding contracts for the construction of two roads to favored individuals, but when he inquired, he was told that both roads were never built.
According to Abbasi, institutions like NAB and anti-corruption offices have become the most corrupt institutions in the country, and there is no one to hold them accountable.
The PML-N leader remarked that those not participating in the elections are also affected, as turning elections into a contentious issue would harm the country. He believed that disrupting the electoral process is just a way of causing turmoil in elections.
Abbasi stated that Nawaz Sharif was his leader, and although he has differences with the party’s policies and separated on those grounds, the system that was in place in 2018 did not continue and also would not continue.
“The decision to form a new party will be made after the elections, as every election since 1947 has been marred by fraud,” said the former PM.
He emphasized the need for political, military, and judicial leadership to sit together and determine the future; otherwise, it would be challenging for the country to move forward.
In response to a question, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said that he is not participating in the election, and the Chief Election Commissioner and the Prime Minister are responsible for making the election non-controversial. He stressed that conducting elections is the responsibility of the ruling government and those in power. Creating a non-controversial election is crucial because the public is disillusioned with the current election process.
Regarding his decision to not participate in the election, Abbasi mentioned that he has left the election but not politics. He said that he saw the elections as a constitutional necessity, and the political leadership’s responsibility is to make elections a purposeful means of addressing issues.
“Unfortunately, all three major parties in the country have failed, and political, military, and judicial leadership need to sit together at a table and determine the way forward,” he said.
When he was asked about the alleged deal of his leader, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi stated that everyone asks this question, but he has no knowledge of any deal. He emphasized that in Pakistan, everyone believes that matters are settled through the deals.
Abbasi reiterated the importance of giving respect to the vote, citing it as a constitutional requirement. He had previously stated that he would contest the election on the PML-N ticket, not against the PML-N. When asked about the events of May 9, he considered it a tragedy and pointed out that when attacks occur on military installations, both domestically and internationally, it has consequences.
He noted that May 9 is in the past, and now it is February 9, expressing disappointment that no action has been taken against those responsible for May 9.
