PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Wednesday lambasted the PTI for inviting “interference from the same people” that its leaders recently “lectured” on the importance of upholding the Constitution.
Speaking in the National Assembly, Bilawal said: “While upholding the Constitution, they do not talk with politicians. To uphold the Constitution, they are making the same people — who the opposition leader (Omar Ayub) was lecturing […] that do not interfere in politics — interfere by forcefully grabbing their feet.”
In April, former premier Imran Khan had said some PTI leaders were still in contact with the establishment but then party leader Gohar Khan had denied any “secret talks”.
Earlier this month, Imran had linked any potential dialogue with the return of his party’s “stolen mandate” and the release of “innocent imprisoned workers”. On Monday, he had said he would not seek a deal to leave the country while the next day, he signalled a willingness to engage in reconciliation talks with the ruling coalition, but only if certain tough conditions were met.
Speaking on the floor of the Lower House, Bilawal said, “They talk one thing but their politics is different.
“According to them, they are fighting for the supremacy of the Constitution, the rule of law and haqeeqi azadi, [but] they only want to talk with our armies,” he asserted.
At the outset of his speech, Bilawal said “though the opposition might have forgotten its responsibility, it was our (government’s) responsibility to remind them that if they are members of this House and are receiving salaries, those would be Halal if they fulfil their responsibility.”
He then called for the PTI to also fulfil its role in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where it is in power, adding that it was instead “crying only about their matters”, causing uproar from the opposition.
Detailing the PPP’s work, Bilawal said, “The province of Sindh invites the PTI and their government to come and visit our hospitals; we would show them and teach them how free and quality treatment is provided to the poor public.
“We are ready to work with your government as well that there should be free and quality treatment in Peshawar such as the NICVD (National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases),” he added.
At one point during his speech, the PPP chairman said he would like to express his dismay at the opposition’s “non-serious attitude”, at which the opposition benches voiced protest.
In the past few days, the NA has seen frequent protests and heated exchanges between the treasury and the opposition benches.
On Monday, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif had launched a blistering counterattack against PTI’s Omar Ayub after the latter suggested that violators of the Constitution should be tried for treason under Article 6 (high treason). In response the next day, Ayub had termed Asif’s statements as “personal” and “unwarranted”.
More to follow