Bilawal warns of withdrawing support to PML-N-led govt until ‘grievances addressed’

Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Wednesday ruled out support for the government’s proposed legislation in the Senate and National Assembly, saying no party member would vote on bills until the PPP’s unresolved grievances were addressed.

“Our grievances have not been addressed, which is why no member of my party will vote for their proposed legislation, whether in the Senate or National Assembly. If they have the numbers to pass their legislation without the support of the PPP, they are free to do so in a democracy,” said Bilawal while addressing a press conference at Parliament House.

He also warned that the party would withdraw its support for the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)-led government until its concerns over the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) elections were addressed.

“My party has decided that there will be no cooperation with the PML-N in coordination and legislation until the reservations are removed,” Bilawal stated.

Read: ‘Your countdown has begun’: Bilawal warns of launching movement against govt over alleged rigging in AJK polls

Earlier in the day, the PPP chairman met with the Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly, Mahmood Khan Achakzai, and Senate Opposition Leader Allama Raja Nasir Abbas in the opposition chamber of the National Assembly.

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”.

He requested the leaders of the opposition in the parliament to play an active role by joining the parliamentary committees and increasing communication regarding legislation in parliament.

“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.

Bilawal also welcomed the transfer and treatment of Imran Khan to the hospital as a result of the Supreme Court’s decision, saying that this was a “democratic tradition”.

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, further questioning if this “is the treatment that PML-N gives to its allies?” 

Read More: Bilawal warns rigged polls will hasten PML-N downfall

“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 were on the same page, he said that while the government and the establishment could 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.