In a cleverly veiled attack on PTI leader Imran Khan on Tuesday, former president Asif Ali Zardari called him “crazy for power” and demanded that the judiciary determine “if this guy is above the law.”
In a meeting with Sindh ministers, Zardari reportedly said, “All provinces are looking to us in this critical scenario, but there is a man whose hunger for power is driving him insane with each passing day.”
“This man is subjecting our army to criticism on a daily basis and the same army is battling terrorists and sacrificing their lives for the country,” Zardari said.
Read more: UN takes note of terrorism charges against Imran Khan
The former president’s comments follow recent ones made by the PTI chief on Saturday when he criticized a female additional sessions judge who let his chief of staff Shahbaz Gill to be remanded back into the custody of Islamabad police.
Without naming the former prime minister Imran Khan, PPP leader called out for allegedly threatening the army, the police and a female magistrate, saying “this man dares authorities to arrest him”.
فوج ، پولیس اور اس کے بعد عدلیہ کی ایک خاتون مجسٹریٹ کو یہ شخص دھمکیاں دیتا ہے اور ساتھ کہتا ہے کہ مھجے گرفتار کرکے دکھاؤ، صدر آصف علی زرداری
— PPP (@MediaCellPPP) August 23, 2022
In response to the former Prime minister’s comments, Zardari urged the government to establish its writ, stating that “otherwise, institutions will continue to be attacked by him.”
Earlier, he said all provinces were facing an emergency situation and encouraged political parties to put politics aside in order to support those affected by the floods.
Read more: Sharif-Zardari Regime: A failed experiment?
Imran had vowed to file proceedings against Islamabad’s inspector general of police and deputy inspector general of police at a rally on Saturday in F9 park Islamabad saying, “We won’t spare you.” Following that, he issued a strong warning to the judiciary, warning it to prepare for the repercussions of their “biassed” stance towards his party.
A day later on Sunday, the PTI chief was booked under Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act (punishment for acts of terrorism) regarding his comments at his Islamabad rally on Saturday.