Extending good wishes to the newly sworn-in Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari hoped that the esteemed head of the apex court would establish a lasting legacy akin to the “Charter of Democracy”.
This, he believed, will play a pivotal role in the restoration and enhancement of the judiciary's credibility.
He expressed these remarks during a press conference in Okara after condoling the party’s aide Asif Baloch on the alleged killing of his brother in the city.
Bilawal hoped that the judiciary would “improve” under CJP Isa, saying the PPP had a “bitter history with the institution”, according to a press release issued by the PPP media cell.
Read More: Bilawal urges judiciary to stop repeating past errors
The ex-foreign minister also took exception to Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar for going to the United Nations to represent Pakistan in the 78th General Assembly’s session, given the limited space of the interim set-up to in foreign affairs.
Bilawal said he would have suggested the interim PM to send the foreign minister, instead of going himself.
“The caretaker government have limited space to work generally and especially in foreign affairs,” said Bilawal while reiterating his demand to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to issue the election date.
“We demand the ECP to give election date and schedule so that we can come out of issues [country is facing],” he added.
While answering a question about the formation of an alliance with any political party, Bilawal said that he could tell this only after the election date was announced.
Read More: Zardari urges judiciary to see if Imran is above law
“At the moment we demand election date and schedule,” asserted Bilawal, reiterating the decision made by the party’s Central Executive Meeting (CEC), last week.
Claiming that there were attempts to push the party against the wall, Bilawal held that those who had conspired against the PPP in the past failed to achieve their ulterior designs.
Citing historical examples from the past, the PPP chairman recalled that when his grandfather Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was executed, the party’s nemesis were ecstatic and thought that the PPP would be disbanded once and for all.
Expressing reservations on the alleged lack of level playing field for the PPP before going into the elections, the PPP chairman said that the CEC had empowered the former president Asif Ali Zardari to resolve this matter and convey concerns to the relevant stakeholders.
“As far as the reservations of level playing field, we [CEC} empowered President Zardari to address them,” said the ex-foreign minister, adding if their concerns remain unaddressed his “hand will not remain tied”, without elaborating further.
Responding to a question about PTI President Chaudhry Parvaiz Elahi’s series of arrests in various cases, he said that “it does not matter if one keeps his pet in birdcage or anywhere else,” adding that he stood with the people who were with him on one-page on Constitution, law and democracy.
لائیو: چیئرمین پاکستان پیپلز پارٹی بلاول بھٹو زرداری اوکاڑہ میں پریس کانفرنسکررہےہیں۔ https://t.co/4UZro94PDg
— Pakistan Peoples Party – PPP (@PPP_Org) September 18, 2023
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