Bilawal wants decrease in judicial activism

• PPP chairperson says if politicians are failing then public can vote them out
• Bhutto says PML-N weakened institutions but judiciary should mind its own business 

HYDERABAD: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Sunday said that if politicians are failing at their work then the public has the authority to vote them out as he called for a decrease in judicial activism.

The PPP chairperson was referring to Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar’s remarks wherein he had said the judiciary is forced to intervene in the work of the executive due to a lack of performance in the institutions and the discomfort of the general public.

While talking to journalists in Hyderabad at the residence of late Jam Saqi at Naseem Nagar on Sunday afternoon where he came to offer condolences with the bereaved family, Bilawal said that the institutions become weak by meddling in the affairs of each other. “Judiciary should do its work and leave the politicians alone so they could to do their job,” he added.

Bilawal criticised Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), saying the party has weakened institutions. But judicial activism should also be decreased, he said.

Moreover, the PPP chairperson said that space for politics of ideology was diminishing. About Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi’s statement regarding the Senate chairperson, Bilawal said the premier should take back his words.

The premier, in a direct reference to Senate Chairperson Sadiq Sanjrani, had said: “The Senate chairman also serves as the acting president and it is a disgrace to the country that a man who bought votes became the leader of the upper house. Can there be any respect for the country after that?”

Bilawal Bhutto Zardari also vowed that the PPP would continue its struggle to serve the masses without any discrimination adding that PPP was the only political party of the country which always made efforts to improve the living standard of the people according to ideological manifesto set by Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and Shaheed Benazir Bhutto.

He said that provision of employment to youth, launching of Benazir Income Support Programme, distribution of state land among landless heirs particularly women peasants, skill development programmes, development of agriculture and other sectors of life were the great achievement of PPP government and the party will continue its efforts to improve the socio-economic condition of the common people, as well as progress and prosperity of the country.

He also claimed that other political parties have not initiated such programmes which were implemented by the PPP governments in the past. At present, he said that poor had become poorer and the rich become more rich, adding that the PPP had the development programmes which could move the country towards the right direction.

Responding to a question, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that his party leaders and workers had rendered sacrifices for ensuring an independent judiciary. The party leadership and workers fully believed to respect the decisions of the judiciary, he said and added that party desired to bring reforms in the judiciary to ensure speedy justice to aggrieved persons.

At present, around 1.8 million cases of various natures including heinous crimes of terrorism and murders are pending in the courts of law, the PPP chairman said and maintained that his party believed that all constitutional institutions should discharge their responsibilities accordingly.

Replying to another question, the PPP chairman made it clear that the party would not compromise on the 18th amendment.

“The party found no sincere efforts on NFC Award and other national issues,” he said and added that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) should be empowered to conduct the general elections in free, fair and transparent manner.

Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on the occasion paid tributes to the services of Jam Saqi, adding that his struggle against the dictatorial rule in the past could not be forgettable. Late Jam Saqi was the politician of the left wing and he remained steadfast in his ideology, he said and added that his grandfather and mother always acknowledged his struggle.

Among others, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah and provincial ministers Nisar Khuhro and Jam Khan Shoro also accompanied the PPP Chairman.

Earlier, on March 29, Bilawal had advised Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi to withdraw his remarks about Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani.

During the inauguration ceremony of the Thatta Carriageway Project, Bilawal had said that he had believed Prime Minister Abbasi to be a responsible person.

Furthermore, On Sunday, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) North Punjab President Qamar Zaman Kaira, while addressing a press conference, asked PM Abbasi to not “bring the Senate into disrepute”.

Hitting back at the premiere for criticising the Senate chairman and its newly elected members over horse-trading allegations, he said, “The PM himself is buying votes.”

On Saturday, Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi criticised the judiciary for indulging in political matters, saying political decisions should be made through polling stations and not the courts.

Addressing a ceremony to mark the inauguration of the construction work of Northern Bypass and Rakhi Gajj Bewata Section 1 in Dera Ghazi Khan, the premier had called for letting the voters make political decisions, as he censured the judiciary for disqualifying former prime minister Nawaz Sharif from the executive office and party presidency.