ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, making a thinly veiled reference to the previous PTI government, said those who had benefitted from rigged polls earlier were now complaining in the house against the ‘neutrality’ of institutions.
“They know undemocratic parties like theirs would otherwise not be given any leverage,” the PPP scion added while addressing the National Assembly.
“This is why today, they are running a movement for our institutions to play a controversial role instead of a neutral and constitutional one,” he added.
Criticising assembly proceedings during the tenure of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Bilawal said the opposition in the NA, although limited in number, was getting the opportunity to talk and raise their concerns about issues like the Sindh local body elections.
However, he added that it would have been more “appropriate” to discuss the issue in the Sindh Assembly.
The minister said that the PPP had been struggling for democracy, fair and free elections, and economic issues for three generations.
He stated that the party had “bravely faced every tyrant”, citing examples of “violence” under leaders such as Ziaul Haq and Pervez Musharaf.
“The PPP has had the opportunity to govern despite rigging. In this country, rigging has always taken place against the PPP to stop the party of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto,” he added.
He claimed that like Imran Khan, there were parties, politicians and “puppets” in Sindh who helped dictatorial rule come forth in the hopes that institutions would not be neutral.
