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Zardari Takes Swipe at Imran Khan, Stresses Agriculture and Political Maturity
President Asif Ali Zardari, speaking in Vehari, took fresh jibes at PTI founder Imran Khan, saying politics requires tolerance. He stressed agriculture as key to economic stability and vowed no compromise on Kashmir.
ND
by News Desk
2026-02-17
Zardari Takes Swipe at Imran Khan, Stresses Agriculture and Political Maturity

President Asif Ali Zardari on Tuesday took another indirect swipe at Imran Khan while addressing a ceremony in Vehari, saying that political life demands resilience and tolerance.

“In one and a half years, their voices have started to be heard. This happens in politics. If you cannot tolerate it, then do something easy,” the president remarked, without directly naming the PTI founder.

Focus on Agriculture and Economy

During his speech, President Zardari emphasized the urgent need to provide facilities to farmers, calling agriculture the backbone of Pakistan’s economy. He said that national development depends on strengthening farmers and adopting modern agricultural methods.

“The only sustainable solution to Pakistan’s economic challenges is agriculture,” he said, adding that the country possesses abundant resources but lacks continuity and long-term vision.

He stressed that empowering farmers would pave the way for economic stability and national progress.

Governance and Political Stability

President Zardari highlighted the importance of political maturity and cooperation in governance, noting that flexibility is essential to prevent isolationist tendencies. He acknowledged that people in Balochistan were facing hardships but maintained that the overall situation in the country had improved compared to previous years.

He pointed out that his party’s political influence was currently limited to Sindh and Balochistan, noting that they did not hold power in Punjab, while Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had its own political direction.

In a sharp critique of the KP government, he alleged that it had failed to deliver meaningful governance and accused it of neglecting public welfare.

Reference to Imran Khan’s Tenure

Without directly naming Imran Khan, President Zardari criticized the previous government’s tenure, saying that when a country’s progress stalls for a year, it can set it back by a decade. He remarked that Pakistan had effectively “stopped for four years,” adding that during that period, speeches dominated the political landscape instead of substantive governance.

Drawing a comparison with his own past, Zardari referenced his 14-year imprisonment, stating that when he reunited with his children, they had grown taller than him. He suggested that enduring hardship is part of political life.

“You have to bear these hardships; this is part of life. If you cannot bear it, then do some other easy work,” he said. In a sarcastic tone, he added that one could have chosen to become “Mother Teresa” or focused solely on cricket rather than entering politics, where every sector of society becomes involved.

Kashmir and National Security

Reaffirming Pakistan’s longstanding position on Kashmir, President Zardari described it as the country’s “jugular vein” and declared that not even an inch would be compromised.

He also paid tribute to Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, crediting him with making Pakistan a nuclear power in response to regional threats.

The president further claimed that he had tripled the salaries of judges, asserting that his decisions were made thoughtfully and with careful consideration.

The speech underscores the intensifying political rhetoric between the ruling coalition and PTI, as both sides continue to trade barbs amid an evolving political landscape.
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