Govt creating problems for itself through one-sided policies: Bilawal

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal-Bhutto Zardari said on Thursday the government occasionally adds to its own problems through one-sided policies, which are devoid of consensus.

Addressing the swearing-in ceremony of newly-elected members of the Ittehad Union of All Pakistan Employees of OGDCL here, he warned against any authoritarian rule, saying there was no system in the world where a government could sustain without the support of people.

“History is witness that systems that are run against the wishes of people cannot survive and that this is relevant even today in Pakistan,” he added. “Decisions that are consensus-based and adhere to the desires of people are more effective and easier to implement,” he said.

He said sometimes the government makes such a policy that it seems like they have a two-thirds majority. “Our suggestion is that if policies are made with the advice of elected representatives of people, it will be better for the entire country,” he added.

Bilawal said the 18th Amendment could not be tampered with today because it was based on consensus and the will of people. He said there were policies that were being made for the institutions. “Let alone the opposition, had they consulted with the allies, those policies would have been better and more successful,” he added.

The PPP chairman advocated for an end to the politics of hate. “We should think about the development of entire country; we do not believe in politics of hatred and division; we believe in the politics of resolving issues… at the moment, Pakistan’s politics is unfortunately not based on the politics of issues; it is not running around the problems of the people, it is running as it is.”

Bilawal said solution to problems of people should take precedence instead of someone’s imprisonment or release.