Shafaqna Pakistan: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Wednesday ruled out supporting government legislation in the Senate and National Assembly until the party’s outstanding grievances are resolved.
Addressing a press conference at Parliament House, Bilawal said no PPP lawmaker would vote for government-sponsored bills unless the party’s concerns were addressed. He added that if the government had enough numbers to pass legislation without PPP support, it was free to do so in a democratic system.
Bilawal also warned that the PPP could withdraw its support for the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)-led government if its concerns regarding the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) elections were not addressed. The PPP had previously raised allegations of irregularities during the AJK polls.
“My party has decided that there will be no cooperation with the PML-N in coordination and legislation until the reservations are removed,”
He said that it would be “difficult for me and my party to sit down and cooperate with the PML-N if we are not given justice”, also noting that the PML-N has not even tried to “address our objections about the fairness of the election process in AJK” and that “we will therefore sit in the opposition in the Kashmir assembly and the PML-N can form the government”.
Bilawal said that there could be many dangers to parliament, one of which was that those sitting in parliament do not uphold its dignity, saying that opposition parties were “distancing themselves from the democratic process and this should be reversed”.
“In a sensitive area like Kashmir, there should have been an election free of controversy, especially knowing that in many constituencies, including Bhimber and Mirpur, there were concerns that the law and order situation could deteriorate,” the PPP chairman said.
He added that the PPP’s position regarding provinces was very clear: if there is consensus, a province should be formed.
“The most important thing is that if the people of this province want a consensus, then their opinion should be respected,” he clarified.
Bilawal highlighted that PPP candidates were attacked and faced hardship during AJK elections, adding that “what happened in the Poonch area is also in front of everyone”.
“If the PML-N wanted a controversial government after a controversial election, then congratulations to them,” he stated.
“Is this the treatment that PML-N gives to its allies?” Bilawal asked.
“You should pose the question to the federal government if PPP has in the past helped them in legislation or in making changes to the constitution or whether or not the party has raised questions and criticised aspects of changes in the law,” he stated.
“If they want to strengthen the institution of parliament, they need to move ahead with political consensus and not through the use of forceful tactics,” Bilawal noted.
Responding to a question about whether the government and establishment are on the same page, he said that while the government and the establishment can be on the same page, something is amiss. “However, if there are any differences between the two, sooner or later, they will emerge out into the open”.
Bilalwal said that the meaning of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission was that the innocent get justice and the guilty are punished, adding that until the time that the commission was formed, the protesters should return home peacefully.
Source: Express Tribune
