PMLN violating pact with PPP: Bilawal

KARACHI: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal-Bhutto Zardari expressed his dissatisfaction with the federal government’s policies and governance style on Thursday, alleging that Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PMLN) was violating its agreement with his party.

During his visit to the PPP media cell here, he claimed that neither respect was being given to his party nor genuine politics were being observed at the federal level. He claimed that Sindh province was being discriminated against again and again, which was a matter of concern for his party.

Officials said Bilawal toured various departments, including the monitoring room and news section of the media cell. Surendar Valasai, in-charge of the cell, provided a detailed briefing to the party chairman.

Bilawal held an informal discussion with journalists, addressing questions about President Asif Ali Zardari’s health, killing of Chinese citizens, US elections, internet issue, PPP’s grievances with the federal government, construction of new canals on the Indus River, and the need for equal representation in constitutional benches.

When asked about President Zardari’s health, he replied that fortunately his health was improving, although he suffered four fractures in his leg and needed rest for a few weeks.

Commenting on the terrorist attacks on Chinese citizens, the PPP chairman said he believed in the principle of “killing one is killing all humanity”. He emphasised that Chinese citizens, who fell victim to terrorism, had come to Pakistan to create employment opportunities and benefit the nation.

He urged the government to work globally with its international partners to expose the networks and called for an internal ‘National Action Plan 2.0’ to address this issue.

Regarding the US elections, the PPP chairman explained that just as Pakistan did not interfere in US domestic politics, the US also refrains from intervening in Pakistan’s internal matters. He noted that while personal relationships could be beneficial in diplomacy, they did not play a decisive role in state-to-state relationships.

He shared that he had an acquaintance with the US President-elect’s son-in-law and daughter, recalling that when Shaheed Benazir Bhutto visited the US during her first term as prime minister, President Trump hosted a reception in her and President Zardari’s honour.

Commenting on Pak-US relations, he said the ties between the two countries were currently not as good as they could be. He recalled that even when he was Pakistan’s foreign minister, relations with the US were strained, but now they were far worse. He asserted that it was in the interest of the Pakistani people to improve relations with the US.

When asked about the slow internet speed in the country, Bilawal said that decision on internet policy was being made by people who did not even use it. He said there was no consultation with the PPP on the issue, nor was any input sought.

In response to questions about PPP’s grievances with the federal government, Bilawal said it’s not a question of mere discontent; true politics was based on respect. He said the government coalition must adhere to their agreements.

He stressed that the PPP was supporting the federal government as a moral ally and that they expected the agreed terms to be upheld. On the issue of new canal construction from the Indus River, he said that step was another example of the PMLN’s breach of agreement with the PPP.

Bilawal criticised the federal government for failing to implement the promised equality during constitutional amendments. He said he withdrew from the judicial commission in protest, stating that if he had stayed, he would have addressed the disparities in the constitutional bench. He stressed that if there were judges from rural Sindh on the Supreme Court, he would have advocated for equality, as the highest judicial institution required fair representation.

Bilawal asserted that a country could not operate under two separate systems, as different treatment of Sindh again and again was visible to all. He urged that the chief justice, as the head of the constitutional bench, should remain impartial to ensure justice and unity.