–PPP chief calls NAB a black law which was ‘designed for political engineering, selective accountability’
LARKANA: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari said on Saturday that Prime Minister Imran Khan wanted “fake cases” against his political opponents, adding that the premier was “never serious” about eradicating corruption.
PM Imran Khan, during a rally in Ghotki, vowed that the PTI government would not let PML-N and PPP leaders off the accountability hook “until they give back the country’s [looted] wealth”. The premier had also discussed corruption in Sindh, where the PPP has a majority government.
Reacting to the PM’s remarks, Bilawal told journalists that he had read a press report that the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has evidence against a sitting minister and his brother, but expressed the view that the minister would not be arrested because the accountability watchdog only practices “selective accountability”.
“We all know that NAB is a black law, designed for political engineering,” said Bilawal.
The PPP chairman claimed that if anyone was serious about challenging corruption and instating the law of justice and accountability — which he said was equally applicable to every citizen — it was him.
Bilawal vowed he would one day establish such laws in the country, accusing the premier of only seeking to “show off his politics”.
“Khan sahab’s politics start and end at NAB,” he said.
The PPP leader alleged that NAB had played an “important role” in the appointment of “selected government”, alleging that the bureau continued to have a hand in running it.
Bilawal said that the premier beats the drums of provinces having increased responsibility and questioned why then they are not given their due share of resources. He accused the government of “stealing” the resources that belong to the people and spending them in Islamabad.
“This is a ‘red line’ for PPP and we cannot tolerate it at all,” Bilawal said, adding that the PPP would oppose this “conspiracy” at every forum.
In response to a question, Bilawal said that he had undertaken his recent train march, a reference to the PPP’s “Caravan-e-Bhutto”, for Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s death anniversary.
“I know that he [Imran Khan] doesn’t go to his constituencies,” he remarked, adding that “a selected politician does not give importance to his voters.”
PEACE IN AFGHANISTAN:
On a question related to Afghan peace process, Bilawal said, “I think that the people and representatives of Afghanistan should make decisions about the future of Afghanistan.”
The PPP chief said that everyone was hopeful that the steps taken by the US and other countries would bring fruitful results to the long-drawn conflict that had brought so much instability to the region.
Bilawal, however, expressed “some doubts” about the process as the people and Afghan representatives were not being taken into confidence.
He remarked that when US President Donald Trump said that the US was pulling out of Afghanistan, the Afghanistan president himself had found out about the announcement through the television.
Bilawal said that PM’s recent statement regarding Afghanistan was “inappropriate” and that the premier or any Pakistani should not make statements against the Afghanistan government and its elected representatives.
‘PTI SOFT ON ISRAEL’:
On Israel, the PPP chief said that his party stands with the people of Palestine regardless of the position taken up by other Pakistani politicians, the Muslim community or the rest of the world.
He claimed, “I think that since Khan sahab came to power, perhaps Pakistan’s stance towards Israel has seen some softening.”
