FM urges Bialwal Bhutto not to drag institutions into politics

Islamabad: Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Monday asked Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari not to drag institutions into the politics.

Bilawal urged the Supreme Court and Election Commission of Pakistan to play their roles, he said asking if the institutions had any role in the no-confidence motion against the PM.

“Bilawal and his father have embarked upon buying conscience, which they should avoid. We are well aware of the prices you are setting. The members themselves relayed us, whom you contacted. Is buying members by carrying bags of currency notes compliance with the constitution,” he asked addressing a news conference in Islamabad.

Qureshi said that the government would inflict defeat to the opposition’s no confidence motion against PM Imran Khan in a political and democratic manner in accordance with the spirit of the constitution.

The institutions fully understood their constitutional responsibilities, he said.

The foreign minister said that the PPP leadership was resorting to undemocratic and unconstitutional tactics and offering money to buy the loyalties of elected representatives.

He said the Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf (PTI) government had full confidence in its allies including the Pakistan Muslim League-Q (PML-Q), Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) and Balochistan Awami Party (BAP).

He said the allied parties always stood by the government in the past and the ruling party was grateful to them. He said the leadership of allied parties comprised of seasoned politicians who could not be hoodwinked by the opposition parties.

Shah Mahmood Qureshi said the unholy alliance amongst the opposition parties was a marriage of convenience which was not durable and would shatter soon. He pointed out that the opposition parties had no common ideology.

“Their only agenda is to oust PM Imran Khan and everybody knows as to why they are scared of Imran Khan,” he said adding that the drama staged by the opposition parties was not benefiting the economy or the business environment in the country.

Alluding to the situation on the global front, the FM said that the government would move forward viewing the national interests.