ISLAMABAD (Pakistan News): Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has advised Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to once again invite Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) for talks so that all political forces can make joint efforts to eliminate terrorism.
Addressing a session of the National Assembly, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari supported the imposition of emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, saying President Asif Ali Zardari had approved it in accordance with the Constitution. He said PTI was criticising the president and the Pakistan Peoples Party but should also explain the solid reasons for not imposing an emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
He said the government had made every possible effort to involve the opposition in negotiations. Imposing an emergency was not a matter of satisfaction, and the president would not have signed the measure if a strong justification had been presented against it. According to Bilawal, when the matter first came before the president, the government pursued negotiations with the opposition before deciding to impose an emergency.
Bilawal Bhutto said he had been informed on the night of the negotiations that the talks had been successful. Two representatives of the Pakistan Peoples Party were also part of the negotiating committee. However, he said PTI had an important role to play under the prevailing political and legal circumstances, adding that the party’s provincial government had committed political suicide, a fact the opposition should also acknowledge.
The PPP chairman said the government had been compelled to impose the emergency and that the measure was not permanent. He stressed that all political parties and institutions must unite in the fight against terrorism, as no individual or institution could tackle the challenge alone.
Speaking about India, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said India was unable to come to terms with the downing of six of its aircraft by Pakistan, while Prime Minister Narendra Modi continued to speak about Operation Sindoor at various venues. He alleged that India was using separatist elements to carry out terrorist activities in Pakistan.
Bilawal urged the federal government to find a middle ground to resolve the current issue. He said the government was extending a hand of friendship to the opposition and that all political forces should come to the negotiating table to engage in dialogue.