'Dialogue or baton': Bilawal calls for bringing stability amid PTI's 'non-democratic' politics

Hitting out at the PTI for “agitational politics”, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Saturday stressed the need for ensuring stability in the country either via "dialogue or baton".

Addressing the party workers and supporters via video link to mark the PPP's 57th foundation day, Bilawal urged “non-political opposition” to adopt democratic norms to ensure economic stability.

Bilawal said the major opposition parties in the country were neither political nor democratic.

“As a politician, we have to come within the ambit of politics,” he said adding that opposition along with government also responsible for ensuring stability in the country.

He also urged the non-political opposition to adopt democratic norms, warning that if they continued with the same attitude then they themselves and the country would suffer.

The statement came as after the PTI marched on Islamabad earlier this week on party founder Imran Khan’s “final call” and during the three-day protests, fierce clashes erupted between the law enforcers and the protesters.

At least five security personnel, including three Rangers and two policemen, were martyred during the protests. On the other hand, the former ruling party claimed that at least 12 of their workers and supporters were killed in the clashes. The party further said that dozens of their supporters were still missing.

The protest was staged against the "illegal" incarceration of PTI founder Imran Khan, other party leaders and workers, "stolen mandate" in February 8 general elections and 26th Constitutional Amendment.

He also referred to the reports that the Centre was planning to impose governor rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

“If the matter is presented before us we will try to take decision with mutual consultation.”

Speculation started circulating on social and local media after federal cabinet, according to PM’s aide Rana Sanaullah, discussed the option of imposing governor rule in KP in the aftermath of party’s protest in the federal capital.

However, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has dispelled the speculations, saying that the Centre was not planning to impose a governor rule in KP.

Firing a salvo at the PTI, Bilawal said that the opposition party was not showing interest in solving public problems. He said their sole priority was to ensure release of their incarcerated leader.

The PPP leader said that they wanted to restore peace and end terrorism in the country. He said that the political parties and the institutions were capable to steer the country out of crisis.

Bilawal declared opposition “biggest obstacle” in bringing political stability in the country.

‘Less space for politics’

In the same address, the PPP chief said that the space for politics is less in the country, stressing the need for all political parties to return to the political sphere.

He also criticised the federal government policies for agriculture, saying it was feared that such policies would lead to the “economic murder” of farmers instead of benefitting them.

Calling upon the Centre to listen to the reservations of the provincial governments, Bilawal said the federal government was planning to draw a canal from the Indus River.

“If the government pushes forward with this decision, the problem between the federal government and the province will increase,” he warned.

Bilawal said the decision would also have a negative impact on the country’s economy. “PPP will not accept any forced decision.”

Moving on to terrorism, the PPP chairman said: “Our army, police and [political] leadership rendered [unmatched] sacrifices and defeated terrorists.”

Stressing the need for a new action plan, he said terrorism was rearing its head once again in Sindh, Balochistan and Islamabad.