Slamming Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leadership over May 9 events, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari asked the Imran Khan-founded party to apologise over the "terrorism it committed on that day", otherwise, it would "face consequences".
"No one should be permitted to commit terrorism," Bilawal said while speaking on the floor of the National Assembly on Wednesday. "The opposition leadership committed terrorism on May 9 by disrespecting the monuments of martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the country."
It is pertinent to mention here that the incarcerated PTI founder Imran Khan, in an informal conversation with journalists in Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail on May 8 — a day before the first anniversary of the violent protests, turned down the military’s demand to apologise for the May 9 riots.
He also distanced his party from the violent protests that broke out in the country last year soon after his arrest.
Amid the opposition's lawmakers sloganeering, Bilawal — the former foreign minister — took a dig at the PTI-backed Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) lawmakers.
He also urged the opposition party to avoid practising "double standards" in politics.
He described the opposition members of the PTI as "non-political and non-serious", lacking interest in the country's politics. He claimed that their leader was "crying" in jail for release.
Bilawal said that the PPP has been struggling to strengthen democratic institutions for three generations and this struggle for Pakistan would continue.
“They [PTI] want resolution of their personal issues. I want to condemn their non-serious attitude as on one side, they are claiming to struggle for the supremacy of the Pakistani Constitution, and on the other side, they are insisting on holding dialogues only with the establishment,” criticised Bilawal.
He said that the PTI-SIC leadership has no interest in democracy, nor the Constitution and the law, except for the redressal of their personal grievances.
Amid opposition lawmakers’ “Go Zardari Go slogans,” the PPP chief continued his speech after putting on headphones while several PPP lawmakers gathered around him to protect him from SIC MNAs’ protest.
He criticised the opposition’s behaviour, expressing dismay over their protests during the speech, which he believed sent the wrong message to the public and those witnessing the session.
He commended President Asif Ali Zardari for focusing on national issues in the speech and avoiding personal or political matters. He emphasised that as the representative of the federation, the president prioritised public concerns, emphasising unity, reconciliation, and collective progress.
He remarked that President Zardari recognised that the solution to Pakistan’s problems lies in dialogue among political forces.
During the address, he highlighted that both the federal government and the opposition should work together to address public issues collectively.
Bilawal advised the opposition to provide input in the upcoming budget, particularly during Pakistan’s current financial crisis.
He emphasised that despite drawing salaries, it is the responsibility of the opposition to actively participate as members of the House and contribute to the functioning of parliament.
He noted that the president delivered a brief speech covering both national and international policy issues, while the opposition leader’s opening speech was lengthy.
He suggested that it would have been more constructive if the opposition leader in the NA had used the opportunity to recommend alternatives to government policies and offer counter policies for consideration.
During his address to parliament, he remarked that President Zardari effectively articulated Pakistan’s policy on Kashmir and Palestine, providing a clear narrative.
He demanded the federal government announce special incentives for farmers in the upcoming budget and provide direct relief to small farmers by subsidising the agriculture sector.
Bilawal also called for the provision of subsidies to small farmers and landlords through the implementation of a “Kisan Card” system.
He urged the government to take decisive action to resolve the wheat import controversy and hold accountable those responsible during the interim set-up in the wheat import scandal.
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