People vote for PTI only because of Imran Khan just like vote bank of PML-N is because of Nawaz Sharif: Asad Umar

ISLAMABAD, Jan 20 (SABAH): Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Secretary General and Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umar on Thursday reiterated that Prime Minister will complete his constitutional term and said that he is not a replacement of Imran Khan.

In an interview with a private TV channel, Asad Umar rejected reports of government’s ouster and said that the statements are nothing but a storm in a teacup.

The minister said that people vote for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) only because of Imran Khan just like vote bank of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) is because of Nawaz Sharif.

Talking about opposition, Asad Umar said that first anti-government movement by PDM was just a storm in cup of a tea; however, efforts are being made to restart the movement.

Expressing his views about PML-N, Asad Umar said that Nawaz Sharif is disqualified for life and is living abroad while Shehbaz Sharif lives in Pakistan and present on the ground but both know that PML-N belongs to only Nawaz Sharif. He said in PML-N after Nawaz Sharif there is Maryam Nawaz and Shehbaz Sharif will never be allowdd to come on first position in party, adding that in PPP after Asif Ali Zardari there is Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, adding that these are inherited parties, Maulana Fazlur Rehman is at top after that there is his son, in ANP there is Asfandyar Wali Khan and his son is after him. He said that contrary to other parites, in PTI awhole team is present.

The PTI leader said that he would have not joined the politics if Imran Khan was not a politician and stressed that no one can question leadership of Imran Khan in the party.

Talking about results of KP local bodies’ elections, Asad Umar, while saying that PTI got most votes in the province, accepted that results were not what were being expected by voters and workers. He said that PTI voter did not cast vote while closing his eyes.

He said that the mayor of peshwar was elected while securing only 61,000 votes, adding that PTI had won five NA seats and one MNA of PTI Shaukat Ali had secured 97,000 votes.

About inflation, the minister said there is unease in the populace due to rising prices but this is not a local issue as prices are rising all around the world. He said that due to price hike the anti-government sentiment is present agasint the governemtns. He said that the international price hike will come down in next six months and after this the future of the opposition will be beleak. He said that there will be competiton in local government elections of Punjab but the results of PTI will be far different which are presented in the analysis at the evening time.