KARACHI: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Sindh President Haleem Adil Sheikh has said that PTI is the largest political party in the country and has neither a desire for positions of power nor any need for a political deal.

‘We have our own ideology, political stance and decision-making. We do not conduct politics at anyone’s behest. Instead, we are struggling for the supremacy of the Constitution, democracy and the restoration of the people’s genuine mandate,’ he said.

Haleem Adil Sheikh said the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) was itself a beneficiary of unconstitutional measures such as the imposition of governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He said President Asif Ali Zardari signed off on such measures and also voted in their favour during joint sessions of parliament, but later spoke publicly about democracy, revolution and people’s rights. ‘This double standard in politics has been exposed before the people,’ he said.

He said the PPP should first explain its political conduct and decisions. Democracy, he added, was not merely about speeches and slogans; it meant upholding the Constitution, ensuring parliamentary supremacy and recognising the people’s right to govern.

The imposition of governor’s rule in any province, he said, should not be driven by political differences but must strictly meet constitutional and legal requirements.

Haleem Adil Sheikh further said PTI had always pursued principled politics and would not compromise on its ideology or political position for the sake of power. The party would not accept any compromise on the people’s vote, constitutional rights or democratic freedoms.

He said PTI was a representative party of the people and would continue its struggle, in line with the vision of its founder Imran Ahmed Khan Niazi, for constitutional supremacy, the rule of law and genuine democracy.