Bilawal demands judicial probe of Faizabad sit in

• PPP chairman says govt should complete its tenure

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan People’s Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto on Thursday demanded a comprehensive investigation of Faizabad sit-in episode through the Parliamentary and Judicial Committee.

Talking to journalists at the Zardari House here, he said that the Faizabad sit-in ending agreement with the Tehreek Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) had indeed perturbed him. To a question, he said that the government of the Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) should complete its tenure.

He said that the next general election should be held as per schedule. “Ensuring timely election is the basic responsibility of all the political parties,” he said. He said that PPP had reservations on census figures in Sindh province, which had duly been conveyed in the recent meeting of the Council of Common Interests (CCI).

Addressing a press conference on the occasion of PPP’s golden jubilee celebrations, Bilawal said that it was demoralising to see the writ of state erode as well seeing the freedom of press strangled. “It was demoralising for my entire generation to see writ of the state erode, to see the abject surrender of the state, to see the rule of law made a mockery of, [and] to see the freedom of press strangled,” he added.

Commenting on the country’s political situation, he further said that the conditions had deteriorated in recent times, requesting all the forces involved in the Faizabad sit-in to let democracy continue. “Such conditions prove to be very demoralising for the youth especially,” he remarked. “We are dejected by the political class, opposition parties and the government.”

The PPP chairman also claimed that democracy in Pakistan was working because of his party. The country became a nuclear power due to the efforts of PPP, Bilawal said adding that the party will also give the country a ‘young prime minister.’ The PPP scion also shared that the party wants the ruling party to complete its tenure as “we want a democratic transfer of power.”

When asked about the general elections, Bilawal said that PPP is hoping that the elections are held on time. However, he remarked that the census process was quite controversial. “The people of FATA are quite upset with the census, as about nine million people are missing from the census in Sindh,” he said. On PPP completing 50 years, Bilawal shared that this is not just an opportunity for celebration but introspection as well.

“We have to see what our weaknesses have been and learn from our mistakes,” he added. The party members must also focus on the ways they can make deceased party leaders such as Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Benazir Bhutto and Nusrat Bhutto proud, he remarked. Bilawal said that the celebrations won’t continue for just one day rather it will be a year-long process. “We will hold a rally in Islamabad’s Parade Ground on December 5,” he said, adding that PPP will hold different conferences in different cities throughout the year.

He also urged the political opponents and rulers of the country to stop fighting with each other. He added, “I just want to ask everyone to please stop.” On PPP completing 50 years, Bilawal shared that this is not just an opportunity for celebration but introspection as well. “We have to see what our weaknesses have been and learn from our mistakes,” he added.