MULTAN: A day after former prime minister Yousaf Raza Gilani’s son was abducted by armed men in Multan, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf president Javed Hashmi has supported calls to postpone elections in that constituency.
Ali Haider Gilani was kidnapped from Multan on Thursday May 9 by unknown armed men while he was campaigning for his provincial assembly seat.
His distraught brothers Moosa Ali Gilani and Abdul Qadir Gilani demanded that election be suspension in their respective constituencies.
Hashmi, while talking to media after his visit to the vetran Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) member Yousuf Raza Gilani’s home to offer sympathy over the kidnapping of his youngest son, said the brothers were right in their demands.
The emotions of both, Moosa and Abdul Qadir Gilani, should be respected as it is the love for their kidnapped brother which is forcing them to give such statements, Hashmi explained.
The PTI president said that all those criticising the statement calling for postponing elections in the constituency should understand and respect their emotions given they are young and passing through the worst times of their life.
Hashmi had visited Gilani late Thursday night to express his support and sympathy and condemn the kidnapping. He also paid condolences for the two PPP workers who were murdered as they tried to prevent the kidnapping.
It is the negligence of the Punjab government because they did not take threats to the PPP and especially the Gilani family seriously, Hashmi said blaming the government of Punjab and their law enforcement authorities.
He appreciated Gilani’s earlier statement about going ahead with the elections despite his son’s kidnapping and attacks on the PPP.
We condemn the kidnapping and will not let terrorists kidnap our elections. All parties should stand united in this time of terrorism and should work united for the evolution of a new Pakistan, Hasmi clarified PTI’s stance on the matter.