Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) vice-president Maryam Nawaz on Wednesday said that since the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) is not part of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) anymore, therefore, it is not her priority.
Speaking to the media outside the Islamabad High Court (IHC), Maryam denied there were rifts in the PDM, saying that all parties in the alliance had the same stance as Nawaz Sharif.
“We all share the same ideology and the parties in the PDM have the same position that Nawaz Sharif has,” she clarified.
Maryam Nawaz said that the PPP is no longer a part of PDM, therefore, it should not be discussed now.
“PPP is neither my priority nor I have any competition with it,” she said.
پیپلزپارٹی میرا ہدف نہیں ہے میرا مقابلہ انکے ساتھ نہیں ہے.جسٹس شوکت عزیز صدیقی کو سچ بولنے کی سزا نہ دی جائے کیونکہ آج اگر کٹہرے میں جسٹس شوکت عزیز صدیقی کھڑے ہیں تو کل کو وہ جج جو انصاف اور قانون کے مطابق فیصلے کرنا چاہتے ہیں کھڑے ہونگے.@MaryamNSharifpic.twitter.com/F2DssPGQGx
Maryam added that the benefits of resignations would have been evident only if all the parties in the PDM had resigned.
استعفوں کا فائدہ تب ہوتا جب اس وقت پی ڈی ایم میں شامل تمام جماعتیں استعفٰی دے دیتی اگر آپ تقسیم ہوکر استعفے دیتے تو فائدے کی بجائے نقصان ہوتا.نوازشریف صاحب اورمسلم لیگ ن زیرو لوڈشیڈنگ چھوڑ کےگئی تھی 2013میں 22گھنٹےلوڈشیڈنگ تھی میاں صاحب نےکام کیااورلوڈشیڈنگ ختم کی@MaryamNSharifpic.twitter.com/gbnvCNuKWK
Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif attended a polo match at the Guards Polo Club to watch his grandson and Maryam Nawaz’s son Junaid Safdar play the prestigious annual Oxford versus Cambridge Varsity Match.
The match was won by Oxford in the end. Junaid’s horse was awarded the ‘Best Playing Pony’ Award as he scored all three goals for his side.
The Oxford versus Cambridge Varsity match was also played by Prince Charles during his time at Cambridge.
It’s believed that Junaid Safdar is only the second Pakistani to have played this match for the Cambridge team after Supreme Court Judge Justice Yahya Afridi, who studied in Cambridge and played a match for the same team during his student years.
Nawaz Sharif can be seen in pictures sitting with his grandson Zayed Hussain, son of Hussain Nawaz Sharif, in the polo ground.
Junaid has graduated from Durham University with first-class honours in politics and obtained another master’s degree from University College London in 2017.
Mian Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz’s spokesperson Mohammad Zubair denied that Nawaz had anything to do with Shehbaz’s silence on going to London after Anchor Shahzeb Khanzada asked if the older brother had told Shehbaz not to come to London.
Khanzada asked Zubair: “Has Nawaz Sharif accepted that resistance is the only way to reconciliation and there is no need for Shehbaz to travel to London or hold his feet and ask him to return for the sake of national interest?”
کیا شہباز شریف مان گئے ہیں کہ مزاحمت سے ہی مفاہمت کا راستہ نکلے گا؟ دیکھئے
— Shahzeb Khanzada (@shazbkhanzdaGEO) June 2, 2021
Zubair responded that it would be wrong to say that Nawaz and told Shehbaz not to come to London. “The lawyers are reviewing the case of Shehbaz Sharif to remove his name from the Exit Control List (ECL). The matter is being reviewed from both political and legal aspects,” he said, “This has nothing to do with Nawaz Sharif giving a message that you [Shehbaz Sharif] need not come to London.”
Zubair added that Shehbaz travels to London every year for his medical treatment.
In May, the Lahore High Court (LHC) grantedconditional permission to Shehbaz to travel abroad for medical treatment. When his lawyers appeared in court, no reference of his ailment was mentioned.
While talking to Kamran Khan on Dunya News, Shehbaz said, “Reconciliation is still possible; it’s never too late. Nawaz Sharif would be more than willing to do this, I guarantee you.”
He further added, “I am sure he [Nawaz Sharif] will promote national interest if there is a level playing field. Even if I have to hold his feet for national interest, I will do so because it is my national duty. I am a Pakistani first and then anything else.”
Some senior analysts suggest that there is no political rift between the Sharif brothers. However, there are serious concerns within the PML-N that the party may face a split in the future due to the differences between Maryam Nawaz and Shehbaz Sharif.
On Saturday, Maryam Nawaz said that “power talks to power”. She said that if there is muzaahmat (resistance), only then will there be mufaahmat (reconciliation).
پی ڈی ایم مکمل طور پہ خود مختار ہے پیپلزپارٹی اب پی ڈی ایم کا حصہ نہیں ہے اور میرا ہدف بھی نہیں ہے پاور کمزوری سےبات نہیں کرتی جہاں آپ نے کمزوری دکھائی وہاں آپکا دشمن آپ پہ حملہ کرے گا.ٹرے میں رکھ کر کبھی آپکو کوئی چیز نہیں ملتی آپکو اپناحق لڑ کے لینا پڑتا ہے@MaryamNSharifpic.twitter.com/ycElmqE033
Maryam camp believes in taking forward Nawaz Sharif’s narrative while Shehbaz Sharif camp believes in reconciliation and not taking any institution head-on.
General Secretary of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, said that Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and Awami National Party (ANP) have left PDM. “Now their paths are separate.”
پی ڈی ایم میں 8جماعتیں موجود ہیں وہ اپنا کام جاری رکھیں گی پی ڈی ایم کے دروازے ہر اس جماعت کے لیے کھلے ہیں جو پی ڈی ایم کےمنشور اور فیصلوں پر چل سکتی ہے اتحاد اعتماد سے ہوتے ہیں جب اعتماد نہ رہے تو پھر پی ڈی ایم میں اس جماعت کی جگہ نہیں رہتی.شاہدخاقان عباسی pic.twitter.com/pN2EaqfaIh
“There are eight parties in PDM and they will continue to do their work. The doors of PDM are open for every party that will follow the manifesto and decisions of PDM,” added Abbasi.
Meanwhile, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has said that leaders of the fragmented anti-government alliance appear to be “confused and divided”.
Bilawal further added that PPP was not part of the meeting held on Saturday, yet PDM is still following the manifesto that was presented by the PPP when PDM was formed.
“We can have positive feelings for each other and wish everybody good luck. Everybody has the right to do Opposition politics in accordance to their own manifesto and ideology,” said the PPP chairman.
He made these remarks while addressing a press conference with ANP leaders in Charsadda on Sunday.
“کل پی ڈی ایم کے اجلاس میں پاکستان پیپلز پارٹی اور اے این پی موجود نہیں تھیں مگر آج بھی وہاں پاکستان پیپلز پارٹی کی پالیسی ہی چل رہی ہے۔ وہ آج بھی استعفی نہیں دے رہے اور پارلیمان میں ٹف ٹائیم دینے کی باتیں ہورہی ہیں۔”@BBhuttoZardari 2/3 pic.twitter.com/dUQICtMDI2
PDM chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Saturday said that the PPP and ANP were not discussed in the PDM meeting, as they are not part of the alliance.
“They [PPP] can still contact the PDM leadership and apprise them about their intentions. But it is not something that we will waste time over anymore during PDM meetings,” said Maulana Fazl.
The delegation was led by the Jamiat Ulema-i- Islam Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman. Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif, PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz, General Secretary PDM Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Mehmood Khan Achakzai, Marriyum Aurangzeb, Usman Kakkar, Attaullah Tarar, Shah Awais Noorani, Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haidari, and others from the PDM were also part of the delegation.
Maryam Nawaz said, “It hurts my heart when journalists are punished for writing the truth and telling the truth.”
Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) chief Maulana Fazl ur Rehman on Saturday said that the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and Awami National Party (ANP) were not discussed in the forum, as they are not part of the alliance.
“They [PPP] can still contact the PDM leadership and apprise them about their intentions. But it is not something that we will waste time over anymore during PDM meetings,” said Maulana Fazl.
PDM also rejected the government’s “one-sided” electoral reforms, which include the use of electronic voting machines (EVMs), and announced a fresh wave of anti-government protests.
“PDM rejects the government’s unilateral electoral reforms ordinance, including the voting machines, and terms it as pre-poll rigging,” said Fazl.
In this regard, the Election Commission of Pakistan, which is responsible for holding transparent elections, should call a meeting of all political parties to take a unanimous decision on reforms, Fazl added.
The Opposition alliance announced a future course of action. On July 4, a massive anti-government protest will be held, followed by another one in Karachi on July 29.
On the occasion of August 14, a massive protest will be held in Islamabad, with PDM showing solidarity with Kashmiris and Palestinians.
The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) will host a budget seminar soon to form a unified strategy during the budget session, while the task to hold the event has been given to PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif.
The PDM chief said PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif attended the meeting via video, while other Opposition party leaders were present in person.
“No party has the right to bring or kick another party out [of the alliance]. Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) is a forum and decisions are taken with consensus,” said President of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Shehbaz Sharif on Friday.
کل مولانا فضل الرحمٰن کی صدارت میں پی ڈی ایم کا اجلاس ہوگا اور تمام ممبران کی مشاورت سے جو فیصلے ہونگے میڈیا کو آگاہ کردیا جائےگا
ہم نے پارلیمانی لیڈران کا اجلاس بلایا تھا اسکا پی ڈی ایم سے کوئی تعلق نہیں تھا شاہد خاقان عباسی صاحب نے پوری طرح سے اسکی وضاحت کردی ہے@CMShehbazpic.twitter.com/cO5oNxNAXW
“Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has already clarified this matter. I, being the Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly, have a duty to fulfil. We had gathered to discuss the upcoming budget, the ill-performance, and massive failures of the sitting government,” added Shehbaz.
Meanwhile, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry, took to Twitter to comment on Shehbaz Sharif’s stance. “Shehbaz Sharif should first focus on uniting the PML-N instead of uniting the opposition. The boat is in a whirlpool.”
شہباز شریف پہلے اپوزیشن کو اکٹھا کرنے کی بجا ئےنون لیگ کو اکٹھا کرنے پردھیان دیں، کشتی بھنور میں ہےاگراس سے نکلے تو فضل الرحمنٰ کا کندھا تو ہر انتشار کیلئے حاضر ہی ہے، اپوزیشن سنجیدہ ہو تو الیکشن اصلاحات پر بات کرنے کیلئےPDM جیسے چوں چوں کے مربعے کی بجائے پارلیمانی لیڈرز بات کریں
Chaudhry further added that the government was ready to sit with the Opposition to discuss election reforms.
The PML-N will host an important meeting of the PDM in Islamabad today. The meeting will take place at the PML-N secretariat. The meeting will be held under the chairmanship of the Leader of Jamat Ulema-i-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) and acting president of PDM Maulana Fazlur Rehman.
Matters relating to the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and the Awami National Party (ANP) will be contemplated upon. Opposition leaders will decide if both parties can be taken back again in the alliance or not.
The PDM leaders will discuss the political situation in the country and the future strategy of the anti-government alliance.
Just a day ago, Shehbaz in a TV show hinted at his plan to convince his elder brother and the PML-N supreme leader Nawaz Sharif on these issues in the larger national interest.
Who will lead the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and whose narrative will prevail in the future is being discussed within the party as per latest reports. Senior anchorperson Shahzeb Khanzada revealed in his show ‘Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Saath’ on Thursday that there are serious concerns that the PML-N may face a split in the future due to the differences in political narrative between Maryam Nawaz and Shehbaz Sharif’s camps.
Maryam camp believes in taking forward Nawaz Sharif’s narrative while Shehbaz Sharif camp believes in reconciliation and not taking any institution head-on as well as focus on winning the 2023 general elections. As Nawaz Sharif is not in the country, he needs to decide which narrative should be taken forward by his party officially, otherwise, the PML-N may face a split. Senior leadership of the PML-N want Nawaz to take a categorical decision in this regard.
Khanzada said they talked to senior PML-N leaders as well as those close to Shehbaz Sharif. Khanzada added that they asked Maryam Nawaz for her point of view.
According to Shehbaz Sharif’s close aides, they want a free hand to be given to Shehbaz, target Imran Khan’s government, no confrontation with institutions and dialogue with institutions is needed in order to forge a roadmap where they stay within their constitutional limits. Shehbaz also wants Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) back in the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) and was unhappy with Maryam Nawaz and Shahid Khaqan Abbasi’s strongly worded statements against the PPP. He is against the show cause notice being served to the PPP and that the PPP should not be forced to resign from assemblies against its will.
Sources say that Shehbaz Sharif wanted to go to London in order to talk to Nawaz Sharif face-to-face about all these issues. He wants Nawaz to decide who will be the next prime minister from PML-N, who will lead the party and whose narrative should be the official party position. He wants Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz to take a backseat from political activities and stay quiet. He does not want them to give anti-establishment statements anymore. The focus should only be on the 2023 general elections. If Nawaz agrees to give full control to Shehbaz, then he will take all Opposition parties on board. He will then also hold a dialogue with the establishment. If Nawaz does not agree, Shehbaz will quit politics. He will not take part in any political activities after that.
PML-N leaders believe that while Maryam Nawaz is indeed a crowd puller, it is better to let Shehbaz resolve all issues before the elections. Maryam Nawaz does not agree to these conditions.
After he was released from jail on bail, Shehbaz Sharif made it clear that all party meetings or jalsas will only take place with his permission. Maryam Nawaz did take a backseat since his release. Hamza and Shehbaz understand election campaigns and electoral politics while Maryam Nawaz does not, as per sources close to Shehbaz Sharif.
When contacted by Khanzada’s team, Maryam Nawaz said there are no two camps within the party; only a difference of opinion exists. She said that it is not my narrative, it is Nawaz Sharif’s narrative. If they make her go quiet, Nawaz’s narrative will still go on. Maryam said it is wrong to say that the majority in the party believes in reconciliation. Things have improved not because of a soft stance but because of Nawaz Sharif’s narrative. PML-N won by-elections because of Nawaz.
If reconciliation was an answer, then Hamza and Shehbaz Sharif would not have gone to jail in the first place. Shehbaz Sharif has his own views and this has been his view for decades but he will never go against his brother. When asked about the differences between Shehbaz and Maryam, she said she has no differences with Shehbaz. She said she does what Nawaz tells her to do. She is not in favour of any confrontation with institutions nor any deal.
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President and Leader of the Opposition in National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif, on Thursday talked about how he spent his days in jail, his niece Maryam Nawaz’s political future, Nawaz Sharif, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan and many other issues in an interview given to Kamran Khan on Dunya News.
A typical day in jail
When asked what is a typical day in jail and how he spent those eight months, Shehbaz said: “I used to pray for Pakistan in jail. It is not easy to remain in jail as it takes a lot of patience to remain in jail. Allah gives one hope there. I would get up for Fajr prayers, I continued my morning walk. After exercise, I would have my breakfast and then recite the Quran. I would read books like Bob Woodward’s Rage. I read Islamic books and read tafseer (explanation) of Quran as I had a lot of time on my hands in solitary confinement. I would feed birds when I was there. I once fed aaloo chanay to birds. I saw that a crow washed the potato with water as it was spicy, which I found very fascinating as they say that crows are wise so I would observe the birds keenly.”
Corruption cases
Kamran Khan asked Shehbaz about the allegations against him by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB). Sharif said since this is a sub judice matter, NAB invited him for the Saaf Paani case and arrested him in Ashiana scandal. During his arrest, they again arrested him in Ramzan Sugar Mills, and then assets beyond means case was opened against him. “I was given bail on merit in February 2019 in Ashiana and Ramzan Sugar Mills case.” He denied all charges of corruption. Shehbaz Sharif said that there is a NAB-Niazi collusion to target the Sharif family. “What else have they [the government] done in three years? They have no other priority other than how to destroy Sharifs’ businesses and our reputation. All they are interested in is to target my elder brother Nawaz Sharif and our family members.” He asked have they proved a penny of corruption against us.
Medical treatment in Britain
Shehbaz Sharif said he is a cancer survivor. He has been getting an annual check up in Britain since 2003. When asked how he would have entered Britain since Pakistan is on a Red List, Shehbaz said he took a chance to go via Doha and if that wasn’t allowed, he would have gone via Istanbul as Turkey was not on Britain’s Red List at that time. “I wasn’t going to Britain to play a cricket match or to learn jaadu tona (black magic). I was going there for my medical treatment and also to see my family.”
شہباز شریف بتا رہے ہیں پاکستان کے برطانیہ کی کورونا حوالے سے ممنوع ریڈ لسٹ میں شامل ہونے کے باوجود لندن کا سفر کرنے کے لئے وہ لاہور ائیرپورٹ کیوں پہنچ گئے اس کا توڑ انکے پاس موجود تھا pic.twitter.com/lMomFRcsIs
Kamran Khan asked him about the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) while he was in jail and if he was involved directly or indirectly with PDM’s decisions. “As luck would have it, PDM was formed when I went to jail. PDM faced divisions within the alliance when I was in jail. I do not impose my views on anyone. I wasn’t allowed to meet my lawyers or family regularly either. I would give my advice when someone sought it. I didn’t know much about it [PDM]. Now I will be there in the next PDM meeting….Such alliances were formed in the past too like MRD, etc.” Shehbaz said differences do take place in such alliances. “No party alone can take a decision unilaterally. Maulana Fazlur Rehman is the head of PDM, so such decisions are taken with consensus. Even if PDM isn’t there in its original form, I am the Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly and it is my duty to talk to all Opposition parties on issues like budget, Covid, foreign policy, Kashmir, Palestine or CPEC. Even if there are divisions in PDM, we have this forum in parliament.”
شہباز شریف PMLN صدر کی حیثیت سے بڑے پتے کی بات کررہے ہیں PDM غلط فیصلہ سازی کی وجہ سے ٹوٹ گئ اب آگے بڑھیں پارلیمنٹ میں اپوزیشن جماعتیں آپس میں مل کر تمام قومی مسائل پر مشترکہ حکمت عملی بنائیں گے اور پارلیمنٹ میں مسائل کا حل تجویز کریں گے pic.twitter.com/Iv0X6IRQIC
Shehbaz Sharif said that Pakistan is facing a lot of problems. “India is a member of G20. We came into being together; we should have been leading in the comity of global nations. Bangladesh, which was part of Pakistan, now has a GDP growth rate higher than ours. How unfortunate that today, Afghanistan’s currency is stronger than Pakistan’s.”
Sharif lamented that this is a selected government. “They came into power after massive rigging.” General Bajwa said in front of me that Mian Nawaz Sharif has given me a lot of respect and never said no to anything related to defence. “Confrontation is not our path; it has to be consultation. This country cannot move forward without this. We need a consultative process between all institutions within the limits set by the Constitution. No one institution can take us out of this quagmire alone. It has to be through collective wisdom and efforts can we make Pakistan as a going country among comity of nations.” Kamran Khan said this is music to everyone’s ears.
Nawaz Sharif
Asked if Nawaz Sharif would agree to these suggestions, Shehbaz Sharif said: “He [Nawaz] is a statesman. I guarantee you he will be more than willing to contribute towards nation building efforts if there is a new social order which guarantees free and fair elections, all institutions work within their constitutional boundaries, judiciary is independent and free, and every government is allowed to work independently. Reconciliation is still possible; it’s never too late. Nawaz Sharif would be more than willing to do this, I guarantee you.”
He said that when he goes to London, he will meet Nawaz. “He is my leader, he is like my father. There is no compromise on national interest. I am sure he will promote national interest if there is a level-playing field. Even if I have to hold his feet for national interest, I will do so because it is my national duty. I am a Pakistani first and then anything else.”
شہباز شریف با بانگِ دہل اعلان کررہے ہیں ٹکراؤ لڑائی جھگڑے کی حکمت عملی سے کام نہیں چلے گا صرف مشاورت سے کام چلےگاسب سے اہم بات شہباز صاحب ” گارنٹی” دے رہے ہیں نواز شریف قومی مفاہمت کی ہر کاوش کی حمایت کریں گے وہ نواز شریف کو قائل کرلیں گے چاہے پاؤں پکڑنے پڑیں pic.twitter.com/npZjrbx3nT
Kamran Khan asked Shehbaz about Maryam Nawaz’s active political role in the last few months. “Maryam has a right to be in politics; she is now a politician. Time is on her side. The awaam (people) will decide. I am telling you whether it is Hamza who spent 21 months in jail or someone else from other parties, they all have a right to enter politics and then the people will decide.
“Time is on Maryam’s side, time is on Hamza’s side. They need grooming. Maryam’s father, who is a statesman, will groom her. I will groom her as her uncle from my experience. We need to alleviate poverty, eliminate unemployment. This is our agenda. If we cannot follow this agenda, then politics means nothing.”
بڑی مہارت سے شہباز شریف صاحب نے مریم نواز ساتھ ساتھ جمزہ شہباز کو مشورہ دیا یاد رکھیں ابھی انکا وقت نہیں آگے انکا وقت آسکتا ہے ابھی انہیں تربیت کی ضرورت ہے ابھی انکے والدین موجود ہیں لیڈرشپ رول انکے پاس ہے گویا ابھی انتظار کریں pic.twitter.com/y8dru3jLee
“Chaudhry Nisar was not my friend; he was Nawaz Sharif’s friend. Whether you like it or not, I have always inherited his [Nawaz’s] legacy. Whether it’s Chaudhry Nisar or Khawaja Asif or Khawaja Hamid or anyone else. Chaudhry Nisar was initially against me, then he became a close friend of mine. Unfortunately, this 30-year-old friendship ended on a bad note. I won’t go into the details. When my mother passed away, I met him when he came for her fateha (prayers). Taking oath is Chaudhry Nisar’s own decision; he did not consult me. He did not directly consult me on this.”
چوہدری نثار کے حوالے سے بلاوجہ قلابیں ملائیں گئی حالانکہ جب شہباز شریف ہی چوہدری نثار علی خان سے کنارہ کشی بلکہ لا تعلقی کی گفتگو کریں تو واضح ہے چویدری نثار کا ن لیگی تعلق حتمی انجام کو پہنچ گیا pic.twitter.com/6xfAU9Jg8z
Shehbaz Sharif said that without electoral reforms, no one can take a step forward. However, he said this does not mean that electronic voting machines are the answer. “Who are they trying to befool? We all want to give the right to vote to overseas Pakistanis. But in the garb of providing them the right to vote through electronic voting machines, we cannot have an RTS again.”
Summary of the interview
Shehbaz Sharif said that unity and a consultative process is needed and Parliament is the forum where this can be done. “We need a middle way for national reconciliation, consultative process with all institutions. Unfortunately, Parliament has been locked by Imran Khan Niazi. We need meaningful, substantial consultation in parliament. He [PM Khan] hates me so much that he did not even mention my name or title in the letters addressed to me by the Prime Minister. I addressed him by his title and name but he responded without mentioning my name again. If he is only interested in what his pir (spiritual guide) will tell him on how to destroy the Opposition, if this is his only priority, then what can I say?”
مجھے یقین ہے شہباز شریف انٹرویو کے سیاسی منظرنامے پر دورس خوشگوار اثرات رونما ہوں گےتوجہ سے سنیں: میں نے شہباز شریف سے زور دیکر قومی مفاہمتی منصوبہ اور نواز شریف شمولیت کی دو ٹوک وضاحت حاصل کی معنی خیز لگا دوران گفتگو انہوں نے نواز شریف صاحب کے لئے جنرل باجوہ کے جذبات کا زکر کیا pic.twitter.com/r8h3vfa5L4
Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari said on Wednesday that the PPP was not answerable to Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice-President Maryam Nawaz or PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif and that his perspective remained unchanged.
لائیو: چیئرمین پاکستان پیپلز پارٹی بلاول بھٹو زرداری ماتلی، بدین میں پریس کانفرنس کررہے ہیں۔ https://t.co/FQ4ViOAC11
Addressing a press conference in Badin, the PPP chairman acknowledged that he had torn the show-cause notice and there was no change in his point of view on the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM).
“We are not answerable to Maryam or Mian Sahab. We are answerable to the PPP and the PPP’s workers and we think the real joy will be in doing politics together with the PPP’s workers,” says Bilawal.
Bilawal said that Shehbaz Sharif was the leader of the opposition in the National Assembly and the PML-N president, thus the PPP would consider his opinion and statements to be official PML-N policy and conduct its politics according to that.
“Instead of opposing the PPP, our friends in the opposition should target the government,” added Bilawal.
In response to Prime Minister Imran Khan’s concerns about the worsening law and order situation in Sindh, Bilawal said that the law and order situation in Sindh has improved, a move that has been made possible with the help of police.
“Sindh police have the full potential to restore peace in the province,” Bilawal said. “The interior minister [Sheikh Rasheed] is ready to give a lecture about another province but is not ready to protect journalists in Islamabad.”
Bilawal also condemned the attack on Islamabad-based journalist Asad Toor a day ago and said that journalists in Sindh are also being targeted for speaking the truth.
“We demand the highest level of investigation into the attack on journalists,” said Bilawal.
