Bilawal says only PPP can rid the country of crisis

PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has said that the manifesto of Pakistan Peoples’ Party was the welfare and uplift of the lower classes of the society, adding that only PPP can rid the country of crisis, reported 24NewsHD TV Channel.

Addressing the 58th foundation day ceremony of the PPP in Karachi, Bilawal said that Quaid-e-Awaam Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto laid the foundation of democracy and the 1973 Constitution. Bilawal said when Shaheed Zulfikar Bhutto was judicially murdered, then BB Shaheed took the agenda and mission forward. 

Benazir Bhutto fought against two dictators and was martyred in Liaquat Bagh. He said that after the death of BB Shaheed, President Zardari firmly upheld the banner of the PPP. Bilawal said that PPP has set a history by getting global fame. Bilawal said PPP granted rights to Balochsiatn and gave an identity to the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. 

He urged the all Opposition parties that, “We all have the right to have political differences among ourselves, but when it comes to Pakistan, let us all unite and confront our opponents”. Bilawal said PPP was the only political party that was doing positive politics. He said PPP can get the country out of the current crisis.

Bilawal said Pakistan People's Party has come up with a revolutionary constitution, which has no precedent. He said Benazir Bhutto fought for the restoration of the constitution. He said Zardari brought judicial reforms in constitutional amendments. A Constitutional Court was established and a clause was inserted under the Charter of Democracy. He said all provinces were given equal representation in the Constitutional Court. Bilawal said Constitutional Court will restore public confidence. In the past, decisions were made to build dams, demolish houses of the poor and fix the price of samosas. 

Bilawal warned that anyone who attempts to revoke the constitutional guarantees related to provinces’ rights as provided under the 18th Amendment was akin to playing with fire. 

Bilawal made the remarks in a video address to mark the PPP’s 58th foundation day, with his speech being live-streamed in more than 100 districts across the country, as per the party. Bilawal recalled that the ruling PML-N had also proposed constitutional tweaks related to the provinces’ financial rights under the National Finance Commission (NFC) award, which were then rejected by the PPP and did not make it to the final version of the 27th Amendment. 

The PPP considers that there were a lot of faultlines in this country and remain, Bilawal said, adding that the PPP had tried to address those by giving provinces their rights and due representation, and restoring democracy in the past. Those people who are trying to play with the NFC Award or the 18th Amendment or other such matters, or are thinking of doing so, it is as if they are playing with fire, Bilawal warned.

Noting that the government “could see” that the Indian defence minister made aggressive statements about Sindh and that tensions were being created on the Afghan border, Bilawal affirmed: “We will try our best that the internal faultlines in Pakistan are addressed, instead of providing any forces the chance to misuse or take advantage of our faultlines.” 

The PPP chairman said that if united, the country had the ability to face any adversary, including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and “all sorts of conspiracies”. Bilawal praised his party for “saving the constitutional guarantee of the provinces’ financial share”.

PML-N wanted to bring back the system of executive magistry; they wanted back the subjects of education and population control that had been devolved to provinces in the 18th Amendment. Similarly, the government had other wishes, he noted.

“I have been protecting workers rights,” the PPP chief pledges, adding that his party was ready to support any decision that would strengthen the federation.

During his address, Bilawal also spoke about the Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) established under the 27th Amendment — a move the PPP had long advocated for, but was omitted in the 26th Amendment.

“Some people are trying to make this constitutional court controversial,” he noted, adding that he hoped the FCC would “prove all those wrong through its character”.

In a message to those political forces who wanted to make a parliamentary move controversial, the PPP chief stressed that it was the parliament’s and the public representatives’ power to enact legislation. 

The 27th Amendment and the FCC created through it have been at the centre of a heated debate. The FCC has dethroned the Supreme Court as the country’s top judicial forum, with international experts and judges having raised concerns over judicial independence. The FCC that institution and its judges have a major responsibility on their shoulders. While representing the Centre, they have to oversee our constitutional issues and judicial independence, Bilawal said.

He expressed the hope that the FCC would try to restore people’s trust in the judiciary and become a court that will prioritise the Constitution, the law and do justice.

Addressing the meeting, PPP Sindh chapter president and Senator Nisar Ahmad Khuhro said PPP gave provincial autonomy to the provinces and the entire country was given a national financial award. 

Khuhro said Bhutto gave the atomic bomb, Ms. Benazir Bhutto brought missiles. He said, “we do not have a majority in the assembly and will soon make Bilawal the Prime Minister with majority.” Bilawal will remain in our hearts and minds. He said the first PPP rally was held in Korangi today and soon PPP flag will be hoisted in Korangi.