Bilawal Bhutto Zardari warns against making issues of national security disputed

Karachi: Chairman Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Wednesday asked Prime Minister Imran Khan to step down because he has utterly failed to deliver as the PM of the country adding that Pakistan needs a better person for that post so as to cater to needs of the people and the country.

Addressing a news conference at Media Cell Bilawal House, he said that the PPP had hosted All Party Conference – or -APC at Islamabad, which was a historic event participated by former PM Nawaz Sharif and former President Asif Ali Zardari and they spoke to the hearts of the people.

In the APC, he said, we had chalked out an action plan against this government with firm resolve to see that action plan implementation in letter and spirit. “There should be equal law for all in the country. We want democracy for all. There should be equal opportunities for all, be it elections, parliament, courts, Election Commission of Pakistan or freedom of media.”

PPP Chairman stated that ‘Pakistan Democratic Movement – or – PDM” would carry out movement against the incumbent government and its facilitators.

Talking about the devastation caused by torrential rains and heavy floods in nook and corner of the country, he said there was devastation everywhere due to these catastrophic rains and ensuing floods in his province. There are serious problems in Sindh province, in Swat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan as there are countless flood victims who are in dire need of relief. Rains and floods have destroyed crops across Pakistan.

In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic had already inflicted havoc while another locust attack completed the havoc as ready crops were smashed. “Crops of chilies, cotton and tomato vanished under the locust attack in Sindh and thus the farmers suffered immensely. It is the obligation of the Federal government to come for the relief of the affected farmers and rains and floods affected masses in Sindh and all over the country. As we gave Pakistan/Wattan cards to the victims in 2011 floods, the Federal government should now issue the same cards, too. We demand the government to support agriculture. The Federal government will have to come forward.”

Bilawal Bhutto while speaking about the meeting of National Security said it pertained about country’s security and was held in-camera. “Such meetings should never let those irresponsible to be present there particularly those who have no stake in Kashmir or Gilgit-Baltistan.

The meeting convened on the issue of national security and foreign affairs was discussed publicly irresponsibly. Whoever is the spokesperson should take these connotations; otherwise these sensitive issues of national security will become controversial. PM has always failed in any other national security issue. He does not attend such crucial meetings that are of pivotal importance. Everyone has to be united on national security issues,” he added.

He said, “PM has even this time did not attend the national security briefing. The meeting should not have taken place without him. But the absence of him is a complete failure on his part as the PM.”

He informed that in the 2018, the PPP had in its manifesto talked about reforms in Gilgit-Baltistan and the page 56 of the Manifesto is on Gilgit-Baltistan. We will fight the same manifesto and electoral reforms and we won’t change even a single word of that manifesto.

Bilawal Bhutto Zardari while continuing to speak on the point of GB said that he would also ask other parties to contest the elections on their own manifestos or to change their manifestos and participate in the Gilgit-Baltistan elections. Even in the National Security briefing, our position was that the PM should lead or resign. PPP spoke in favour of the people of GB in the meeting. It was also said in the meeting that the people there should make their own decision. Sadly, no representative of GB was present in the meeting, he added.

In fact, as far as the PPP is concerned, the party feels optimistic that there will be free and fair elections in GB and that he has decided to supervise the Party electioneering in GB personally. We wish general elections should also be free and fair in Pakistan, the PPP Chairman hoped.

PPP Chairman said that he would speak less on the meeting on national security where Army Chief had not talked about any amendment. It would have been better if the PM had presided over the meeting. This is also our position that the PM should take the whole nation along on these issues but sadly his role is missing and stands utterly failed.

He said that the meeting on national security was neither the first nor the last as discussions on sensitive issues of national security will continue to be held in coming days but it will not be possible if anyone comes out and makes such sensitive issues a joke for the media. If there would be any kind of legislation with regard to GB, it must only be in wider interests of the people of GB as It is an integrated part of Party’s manifesto, he added.

Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that Sheikh Rashid cannot be allowed to make the meeting of the National Security controversial. “This is irresponsible. We condemn it. The people of GB want their rights. If the issues of national security are made disputed, neither I nor my Party will attend any meeting in future. There was no discussion on the issue of NAB but fair and transparent elections came under discussion. We hope to remove the reservations and objections on elections in future,” he added

To a question, PPP Chairman said that we have been saying Go Imran Go from day one. How can a person who cannot take the opposition into confidence on the Kashmir issue lead the country? He reminded that the PPP had invited the Opposition to the cabinet on the Marriott hotel attack. There is one person who is the main hurdle in this whole process and that is Imran Khan, he added.

He said that PPP has not changed its any stance and the interests of the country can never be exposed to compromises. It is unfortunate for this country that despite that the opposition has been ready to cooperate on national security but the PM seriously lack political sanity and maturity, he added.

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah along with Sindh Ministers Nisar Ahmed Khuhro, Syed Nasir Hussain Shah and Saeed Ghani were also present during the press conference.