Bilawal lambastes federal govt for ‘undemocratic attitude’

Karachi: Pakistan People’s party (PPP) chief Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Friday lambasted the federal government for its ‘undemocratic attitude.’

At a news conference, a visibly charged Bilawal criticised Prime Minister Imran Khan for reiterating that all state institutions, including the army, stand by him.

“I believe that Imran Khan should not use institutions, especially the army, as political props. He keeps saying ‘this institution is with me, that institution is with me’ everywhere. These institutions do not belong to a political party, they are Pakistan’s institutions,” the PPP chief said.

He also addressed the prime minister’s statement that the opposition did not get along with the armed forces because the latter “is aware of all their theft”. The prime minister had made these remarks in a speech delivered minutes before Bilawal’s press conference.

“The army’s job is not to detect corruption,” Bilawal said in response to a question. “That is the job of NAB and our courts and other (similar) institutions.”

The PPP chief also raised questions over Prime Minister Imran’s repeated assertions that he was not involved in corrupt practices.

“If he (prime minister) is not involved in corruption, then why is there no NAB investigation on BRT Peshawar? The buses of the project, which was inaugurated by Imran Khan himself, are catching fire. Of their own accord,” he remarked.

“Jahangir Tareen is enjoying in London, there is no answer on how Aleema Khan (was able to) build huge buildings by selling sewing machines. This means you are corrupt. Transparency International said that this government is the most corrupt in history. Buzdar government is robbing Punjab with both hands, money is changing hands on each posting. ‘Corrupt nahi hain’ (we are not corrupt), stop making these jokes,” Bilawal said sarcastically.

In response to a question, the PPP chief said that state institutions should work within their spheres. “We don’t have real democracy because a lot of our institutions, not just one, not only perform their own duties but are also assigned other jobs by the government,” he said and added: “The state is suffering and all institutions are being defamed.”

“When our Supreme Court, which is an institution towards which everyone should be looking for justice, steps up to build dams, it will become controversial,” Bilawal said, referring to former chief justice Saqib Nisar’s efforts to collect donations for the Diamer-Bhasha Dam while he was still in office.

“Similarly, in (2018) elections, the way army personnel were deployed inside and outside polling stations — something that didn’t even happen during Zia or Musharraf’s time — questions will be raised whether (army) did something or not.

Bilawal was angry over the recent ordinance aimed at taking control of Bundal and Buddo, two islands along Karachi’s coast, which has sparked controversy and a war of words between the PTI and PPP.

Keeping parliament out of the loop, President Arif Alvi on August 31 promulgated the Pakistan Islands Development Authority (PIDA) Ordinance, 2020, to facilitate the Centre to take control of Sindh’s two islands — Bundal and Buddo. The ordinance was notified the following day.