Time for politicians to hold dialogue: Bilawal

LAHORE: Chairman Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Bilawal Bhutto Zardari Sunday said inflation and unemployment had seriously disturbed the common man. He demanded all the politicians hold dialogue to find a solution to these problems.

He was addressing a seminar here on the topic of ‘Bhutto Reference and History’.

Supporting judicial reforms through parliament, he said the court verdict on Bhutto reference was the result of long struggle of the party’s jiyalas.

He said the Supreme Court verdict was historic. Since the judiciary had accepted that a mistake was perpetrated in the trial of Bhutto, it was time for judicial reforms, he said.

He said the judiciary could also bring reforms itself, but it was basically the domain of parliament.

The PPP chairman said the signatories of the Charter of Democracy had reached a consensus on judicial reforms and 90 percent of it was implemented.

He said the reforms that the PPP wanted were related to the setting up of a constitutional court and appointment of judges.

Bilawal said the PPP would try to bring these reforms to strengthen the institution of judiciary. The PPP chairman said unfortunately there was a culture of hatred in our politics and difference of opinion was not tolerated.

Despite all this, he said, the PPP always believed in dialogue and the 1973 Constitution was an example of it.

He said the 18th Amendment, which was done while Asif Ali Zardari was president of the country, was a reflection of consensus.

He said devolution of some ministries to the provinces has also been announced by the prime minister, which was a positive sign.