Bilawal calls parliament, judiciary, media ‘rubber stamps’

Sees no democracy in Punjab; advocates new province in southern Punjab

BAHAWALPUR: Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Sunday dubbed the country’s parliament, judiciary and media rubber stamps.

“In Pakistan, there is a rubber stamp parliament, a rubber stamp media, a rubber stamp judiciary, a rubber stamp bureaucracy, against which the Pakistan People’s Party has to launch its struggle,” he said. He said he would spearhead a campaign against them all.

The young PPP leader was addressing party supporters in Rahim Yar Khan during his visit, aimed at strengthening the party and mobilising workers in the region. He severely criticised the ruling PML-N over its ‘anti-people’ policies. Claiming that south Punjab is ignored by the provincial government, Bilawal advocated the creation of a new province in the region to end the ‘sense of deprivation’ among the masses.

Earlier, addressing the newly-elected local government chairmen in Jamaldin Wali on Sunday, Bilawal said there is no democracy in Punjab and his party would not accept Takht-e-Lahore at any cost.

He said the PPP allowed the Punjab government a honeymoon period by refraining from any opposition in the province. But Nawaz Sharif and Shahbaz Sharif could not digest even  one speech, he added.

He complained that during his rally loadshedding was done and even the sound system was disrupted.  He said the PM made more visits to foreign countries than to parliament. Later, Bilawal reached Bahawalpur and held meetings with party workers and local leaders. —Agencies

Our correspondent adds: Pakistan People’s Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has said his party believes in a truly functional democracy, freedom of press and the independence of the judiciary, which should function without being influenced by outside elements and this was why the PPP supported the lawyers’ movement for the restoration of deposed judges.

He was addressing the LHC Bahawalpur Bench Bar Association executive body members, People’s Lawyers Forum members at the residence of LHC Bahawalpur Bench Bar Association President Nawazish Ali Pirzada after his arrival in Bahawalpur on Sunday.

He said unfortunately there were double standards in the country now; one for “Takht-e-Lahore” and the other for the remaining Pakistan. He said one prime minister of Pakistan was hanged while the other was martyred and third one was sent packing by the court and everyday suo motos were taken against the PPP government.