PPP opposes anti-people ‘PTIMF’ deal: Bilawal

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Peoples Party chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has said that his Party has opposed the anti-people deal of PTIMF from day one as the details of the agreement between PTI government and the IMF have neither been laid before the Parliament nor made public.

Addressing a press conference following two-day meeting of the Party’s Central Executive Committee (CEC) at Media Cell Bilawal House today, he said that this deal is detrimental to the people of Pakistan and the economy as a whole.

“This move will be a burden on the poor people of Pakistan. We strongly condemn it and our party demands that PTI regime withdraw from this move. This deal is not in the interest of Pakistan which endangers its sovereignty and sky-rocket inflation through hike in prices of electricity and gas,” he added.

Talking about the issue of Kashmir discussed in the CEC, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that the PPP and Kashmiri people have a three-generation relationship and his Party has never compromised on Kashmir nor will in future.

Selected Prime Minister was praying for victory of Modi despite knowing that changing the status of Held Kashmir was part of BJP manifesto. When Modi changed the status of the held valley, the incompetent PM said what can he do, the PPP Chairman stated.

He further said that Parliament was not taken into confidence on Kashmir policy nor was it informed whether there will be trade with India or not. Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto had said that Kashmir was an issue on which he could not err even in his sleep. But there is one Imran Khan, who does nothing but make blunders on this issue, he said adding that the people of Pakistan and Kashmir cannot afford an incompetent Prime Minister and the only way to get right on the Kashmir issue is to oust Imran Khan.

Bilawal Bhutto Zardari informed that the CEC urged the Federal government to ensure the supply of vaccines to the citizens for the prevention of Corona virus and also rejected a possible amendment to the Pakistan Penal Code for taking action against critics of the armed forces. The CEC also expressed concern over the issue of hidden cameras in the polling booths during the Senate elections and described this act as tantamount to rigging in the Senate elections.

Talking about the census issue, the PPP Chairman said that the PPP has been expressing its objections and concerns on this issue since 2017. In order to avoid delays in the general elections and to hamper the democratic process, it was temporarily accepted on the condition that 5% census results be re-checked. Holding a fair and transparent census is as important as conducting fair and transparent general election, he said adding that PPP demanded a clean and transparent census and the issue would be taken up in a joint parliamentary session.

On this occasion, PPP chairman announced the CEC decision for resignations from all the posts of PDM adding that we pursue politics with dignity and equality.  Politics of the opposition against the opposition is unacceptable and CEC pledged that PTI regime won’t be allowed to sit comfortably, he added.

He further said that CEC has rejected the PDM’s show cause notice and decided to resign from all the posts in protest against the inappropriate behavior, procedures and attitude of some office-bearers of the alliance. There is no precedent in the country’s political history for such show-cause notices and CEC has demanded an unconditional apology from both PPP and ANP, he added.

The CEC noted that no show cause notice was given to anyone at a time when the action plan of the alliance was not being implemented. In Punjab, five Senate seats were given to PTI, but no notice was given. The CEC was of the view that resignations from the assemblies were an atomic bomb and should be used as a last resort. The PPP had the same stance yesterday and today. Those who want to resign may resign but do not dictate or impose their decision on others, he added.

The PPP chairman pointed out that if the by-elections had been boycotted at the behest of other parties, the PTI would have won all the assembly seats by now. We won’t back down from our struggle, will stand by ANP, and would make all decisions in consultation. “Our doors are open to any party that opposes the PTI regime,” he added.

Bilawal said that the loss of interlinking the long march with en masse resignations at the last moment harmed the opposition. Opposition’s opposition is unacceptable.

PML-N has to decide whether to oppose selected Imran Khan and the Establishment or to oppose the PPP. He pointed out that PML-N had also tried to snatch the right of opposition leader from PPP in Gilgit-Baltistan.