NEW YORK:
Chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has said that despite all challenges, Pakistan is making its first constitutional and peaceful transfer of power to a new democratic government.
Addressing the International Convention of PPP late Saturday night, where he received the “Voice of Democracy” award, Bilawal said Pakistan had been transformed from a dictatorship into a democracy.
“We have restored the supremacy of parliament, stripped our Constitution of illegal powers, usurped by military dictators and nourished a thriving civil society and restored one of the freest press in the world,” he said.
Voicing his support for overseas Pakistanis’ right to vote in Pakistan, Bilawal said the PPP has always, and will always, stand by them.
“We are committed to the idea that dual-nationals should be able to participate in all our country’s civic matters, and that include the right to contest elections,” he told the Pakistani community.
Under this PPP government, Bilawal said, overseas remittances have increased from $6 billion during former dictator Pervez Musharraf’s tenure to almost $13 billion.
Bilawal said Pakistan is undergoing the first peaceful transition of power in its 66-year history through a powerful and independent election commission.
This government has passed more legislation for women in parliament than in all past parliaments combined to ensure protection of women, he added.
He said, “This has been the only government not to imprison people for their political allegiances.”
He said despite external shocks that led to fiscal deficit, Pakistan has, against all odds, managed to have an annual GDP growth rate of almost 4%. “Our exports crossed an historic benchmark of $25 billion this year.”
Commenting on the Balochistan situation, Bilawal said, “With every missing person and with every corpse, we realise a Baloch family loses hope in Pakistan.”
“We have stopped living in denial, and we cannot let the province bleed the way it has and taken historic measures to address the underlying causes of the challenges in Balochistan,” he added.
Condemning the making of the blasphemous film, he said all major political parties in Pakistan have called for international legislation that restricts hate speech and criminalises incitement to violence.
Talking about the independence of the judiciary, he said that on impartial judiciary is a fundamental component of a democratic Pakistan. “We respect the majesty of justice and accept the rulings of our Supreme Court, despite reservations,” he said.
He said the democratic government of the PPP opposed the drone strikes and added it will fight this war on its own terms and not at the dictation of any foreign power.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 1st, 2012.
COMMENTS (12)
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first he should declare his present assets and his nationality. assets must include both foreign and in Pakistan. then comes how much taxes he paid to Pakistan since the time he was made chairman of the party.
Bilawal's vote Bank is outside Pakistan so he will support dual nationality Pakistanis. Just apply common sense - Those people who are not living in the country can hardly visualize their miseries. Bilawal thinks that as and when he becomes PM or President he will use remote control to govern Pakistan. A typical feudal mentality.
While reading comments in ET, the media cell of political parties other than PPP (particularly PTI) appears to be very active. The PPP leadership may also activate their related cells on the social media, in order to respond to media backlash on their party and leadership.
A Peshawary
The people who send money back to Pakistan are the worker lot, the ones our leaders, in private call, the great unwashed. Those with dual nationalities, like our leaders, earn (loot) in Pakistan and then buy villas in France, Dubai, America, Spain, Malaysia and of course good old England. The other 'holier-than-thou' lot send money back because they have to not because they want to.
Majority of remittance senders are not dual nationals, thats they send their money back home, they don't have any other place to keep their major part of money, unlike our beloved politicians etc.
You must be proud of all that you have achieved during the five years you have been in power. The economic policies and mis management if the country have destroyed what little industry there was.we stumble from one crisis to the next but all the PPP does is have meetings and brain storming sessions. Can you name me one infrastructure project achieved in 5 years. How about literacy rates? Anything? .How can you take credit for remittances? This is money sent back often by labourers in the gulf to their families to prevent them from starving. What has the PPP spent all their energies on? Yes you alluded to it; Swiss bank accounts.
Great achievements. Jeay Bhutto.
So PPP awards the “Voice of Democracy” award on its own Chairman? ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Next the PPP will award the nobel prize...
The Chairman of the largest party in Pakistan should come back and live in Lyari, his home constituency.
Sorry to say.....When you will live in Pakistan that is the time to give your comments. Its better you should give your valuable comments to UK & other countries where you are living.........lolz