Asif Ali Zardari blames international forces for poll debacle

Lahore: President Asif Ali Zardari blamed national and international forces for his Party’s defeat in the May 11 polls.
In a meeting with PPP ticket-holders of Punjab province at his private residence, Zardari claimed some “international forces” did not want the party to come to power again.
PPP leaders believe that the US was not happy over the previous government’s agreements for a gas pipeline and the management of Gwadar Port with Iran and China, respectively.
He said he would actively participate in politics after completing his tenure as President in September.
The losing PPP candidates held former premiers Yousuf Raza Gilani and Raja Pervez Ashraf responsible for the debacle. “The poor governance of Gilani and the mishandling of the energy crisis by Ashraf cost us dearly in the May 11 polls,” a PPP candidate, who lost in central Punjab, said.