Sharif, Imran playing politics to make money: Zardari

Pakistan People's Party (PPP) co-chairman and former president Asif Ali Zardari on Wednesday claimed that former Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan were "belittling each other" in order to "win elections and make money."

At a rally in Garhi Khuda Baksh, near the mausoleum of former Pakistan President and Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Zardari said, "If Nawaz and Imran had done any work for the welfare of the people, they wouldn't have been doing a propaganda against us."

He also claimed that Sharif's 'respect for vote' campaign was considered a joke for the people of Pakistan, reported Geo News.

"Someone who has never in his life respected the vote or sanctity of the Pakistan Parliament is nowadays being a torchbearer of it. Our party has always respected judiciary despite being adversely affected from its decisions," said Zardari.

Speaking about his late grandfather, Bilawal said Bhutto was the first person to stand for democracy in the country, adding that the country before Bhutto's martyrdom had tolerance and Pakistan after his martyrdom is plagued with terrorism.

The former Pakistan President took a jibe at the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government, saying that it would remain "at war" with them.

"No matter what happens, we will remain at war with [PML-N] because you are not democratic, you [Nawaz] are like a Mughal emperor," added Zardari.

He vowed that he would overthrow the PML-N government and said that the PPP would come back to power in the upcoming elections.

Zardari's son, Bilawal Bhutto said that his grandfather was the first person to stand for democracy in Pakistan, adding that the country was progressing and was peaceful before his assassination, which plunged the country into further chaos.

Pakistan on Wednesday is observing the 39th death anniversary of Bhutto.

To mark the occasion, the Sindh Labour and Human Resources department has declared April 4 as a public holiday across Sindh.

A documentary displaying Bhutto's feat and accomplishments and his life was shown prior to the speech.

Bhutto was hanged in 1979, two years after his government was toppled in a military coup by then chief of the army staff General Zia-ul- Haq, according to media reports.