‘Kaptaan dar gaya, bhaag gaya’: Bilawal takes jibe at IK over PTI member withdrawal from by-election

Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairperson and the incumbent Foreign Minister (FM) Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari took a jibe at Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan.

Reacting to the PTI candidate Shakoor Shad’s resignation for NA-246, the PPP chairperson said, “IK running away from by-elections. Kaptaan dar gaya, Kaptaan bhagaya”. (Imran Khan is scared, he has run away.)

IK running away from by-elections. Kaptaan dar gaya, Kaptaan bhagaya. 🏃‍♂️ https://t.co/obIqIbRbR1

— BilawalBhuttoZardari (@BBhuttoZardari) September 9, 2022

Bhutto took to Twitter and termed the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) postponement act as “special treatment” for Khan.

In his tweet, Bilawal asked, “How long will Khan remain a favourite”, adding that PPP candidates from Multan and Karachi are frustrated by the sudden postponement of the by-elections in constituencies of Sindh and Punjab.

How long will IK remain ladla? my Multan & Karachi candidates r frustrated by sudden postponement of byelections. They are eager to start serving their constituents who have been left without representation for too long. no need to allow PTI to run away from elections at 11th hr.

— BilawalBhuttoZardari (@BBhuttoZardari) September 8, 2022

Replying to him, PTI’s Meher Bano Qureshi accused Bhutto’s party of the postponement.

“We aren’t the ones running away. Let’s go to the polls on the 11th as scheduled. Your government put in a request for the postponement. Maybe check with the allies before tweeting”, she said. Qureshi is contesting the by-elections from NA-157, Multan.

We aren't the ones running away. Lets go to the polls on the 11th as scheduled. Your government put in a request for the postponement. Maybe check with the allies before tweeting.

— Meher Bano Qureshi (@MeherBanoQ) September 9, 2022

PPP’s Syed Ali Musa Gillani also took to Twitter to express his reservation over the postponement. He said, “We are all set for the election on Sunday. This decision of ECP will not be acceptable. It is against the constitution. The people of the constituency must not be deprived of their representation. Polling staff has been nominated stations finalised.”

“We will challenge if any notification is issued in this regard, delaying the election last minute”, he added.

Gillani, son of former Prime Minister (PM) Yousaf Raza Gillani, is contesting against Meher Bano Qureshi, the daughter of former Foreign Minister (FM) Shah Mahmood Qureshi, on NA-157 in Multan.

We will challenge if any notification is issued in this regard, delaying the election last minute.

— Syed Ali Musa Gillani (@SyedMusaGillani) September 8, 2022

Earlier, the ECP announced its decision to postpone the by-election in 13 constituencies. The by-elections were set to be held on September 11, September 25, and October 2.

By-elections on nine seats of the National Assembly were scheduled to be held on September 25, with Imran Khan contesting on all of them as PTI’s candidate.

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ECP has said that the decision to postpone the by-elections had been taken after getting feedback from the Ministry of Interior according to which Pakistan Army, Rangers, and the Frontier Corps are engaged in relief work for the flood-affected people, maintaining internal security, and thwarting out terrorist activities in the country.

Press Release regarding upcoming bye Elections #ECP pic.twitter.com/GlzCnJELQP

— Election Commission of Pakistan (OFFICIAL)🇵🇰 (@ECP_Pakistan) September 8, 2022