BADIN: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari has said that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif should step down after formation of the joint investigation team by the Supreme Court to investigate allegations against the PM and his family stemming from the Panama Papers.

He was addressing a public gathering in Rahuki village, some 55km off here, on Wednesday. On the occasion, former president of the Sindh chapter of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Ismail Rahu, announced joining the PPP.

Mr Zardari alleged that the PML-N leadership was responsible for the political mess in the country. He said the PPP would continue to demand resignation of the Sharifs until they stepped down or were removed.

He said the slogan of `Go, Nawaz Go` was gaining momentum with each passing day because of the `sillypolitics` of the Sharif brothers and their aides.

He said the Sindh government would double the stipend being paid to deserving people under the Benazir Income Support Programme and allot more land to landless peasants.

The PPP leader said Mr Sharif had never focused on rural areas wheremore than 70 per cent people of the country lived.

He said the people of Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were not getting benefits from the ChinaPakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and warned that it would create sense of deprivation among the people of smaller provinces.

He alleged that the prime minister was doling out contracts of projects related to CPEC to his close friends.

Mr Zardari said he was getting a huge response from Punjab and KP and added that his party would form government in Punjab after winning the next general elections.

He said he would now focus on theissues of Balochistan because Baloch people were asking him with broken hearts to lead them.

The PPP leader said he had the `magic` to win the hearts of the people.

Without naming Pal(istan Tehreek-iInsaf chairman Imran Khan, he said `the man carrying the bat` was not aware of the real and basic issues of the country.

He said Benazir Bhutto and peasant leader Fazil Rahu, father of Ismail Rahu, had remained together in the Sukkur central jail during the Movement for Restoration of Democracy. Ms Bhutto used to tell him about the relentless struggle of Mr Rahu, he added.

Mr Zardari welcomed Ismail Rahu in the PPP and said with his entry into the party, it would sweep polls in Badin district in the next general elections.

Senior Sindh Minister Nisar Ahmed Khuhro said his dream had come true with his friend Ismail Rahu`s entry into the PPP.

Mr Rahu said his family had opposed the PPP for 30 years but now it was high time to join hands with the party and Mr Zardari.

The PPP leader laid a wreath and offered Fateha on the grave of Fazil Rahu.Tight security measures were made in Rahuki during the visit of Mr Zardari. He was accompanied by Chief Minister of Sindh Murad Ali Shah,Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Naveed Qamar, Aajiz Dhamrah and other PPP leaders.

Earlier, Mr Zardari arrived in Sardar Yousaf Khan Chang villagenear Kario Ghanwar, where he offered condolences to PPP MNA Sardar Kamal Khan Chang over the death of his uncle.