Bilawal sees Nawaz in jail post-2018
Bilawal also censured the government for what he called its weak foreign policy
PHOTO: Reuters
ISLAMABAD:
The government received unexpected scathing criticism from the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), which has otherwise been tagged by many as a ‘friendly opposition’. The young PPP chairman predicted his party would sweep the upcoming parliamentary elections and hold Nawaz Sharif accountable for his alleged corruption.
“After the 2018 general elections, the PPP will be in the Prime Minister’s House and Nawaz Sharif will be in jail for his financial crimes revealed in the Panama Papers,” Bilawal told journalists outside the Parliament House.
Discipline issues: Bilawal forms committee
He said the PPP has lent whole-hearted support to the government over the Kashmir issue, but Premier Sharif was dilly-dallying on an independent investigation into revelations in the Panama Papers.
In May, the Panama Papers revealed that three scions of the Sharif family were among hundreds of Pakistani politicians and businessmen who have secreted their money in offshore tax havens. Since the expose, the PTI has been spearheading a campaign calling for accountability of the Sharif family. PPP and other opposition parties have joined in, though they are not pursuing it as vigorously as the PTI.
Imran Khan’s party, which has already threatened to shut the federal capital, boycotted Wednesday’s joint session of parliament, saying that attending the sitting would have endorsed Premier Sharif who, according to the party, has lost legitimacy after the Panamagate scandal.
Bilawal said that although some political leaders had ‘advised’ his party to stay away from the parliament session, which has been convened to discuss India’s war rhetoric and rights abuses in Indian occupied Kashmir, the PPP attended the session because it did not want to play politics on the Kashmir issue.
The PPP chairman said Tuesday’s conclave of parliamentary parties and party heads and the parliament’s joint session have sent out a strong message not only to India but to the international community that the Pakistani nation was united for Kashmir cause.
PTI springs surprise, boycotts joint session after Kashmir caucus
Bilawal, however, censured the government for what he called its weak foreign policy. He demanded that Premier Sharif appoint a full-time foreign minister who could steer the country’s foreign policy.
Earlier, Bilawal observed proceedings of the joint sitting of parliament from the speaker’s gallery.
“It is for the information of the house that PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto is present in the gallery. He is welcomed to witness proceedings of the joint sitting of parliament,” Sardar Ayaz Sadiq announced as the proceedings began.
Lawmakers in the house warmly welcomed the young chairman, who only listened to the speeches of Premier Sharif and opposition leader Syed Khursheed Shah.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 6th, 2016.
The government received unexpected scathing criticism from the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), which has otherwise been tagged by many as a ‘friendly opposition’. The young PPP chairman predicted his party would sweep the upcoming parliamentary elections and hold Nawaz Sharif accountable for his alleged corruption.
“After the 2018 general elections, the PPP will be in the Prime Minister’s House and Nawaz Sharif will be in jail for his financial crimes revealed in the Panama Papers,” Bilawal told journalists outside the Parliament House.
Discipline issues: Bilawal forms committee
He said the PPP has lent whole-hearted support to the government over the Kashmir issue, but Premier Sharif was dilly-dallying on an independent investigation into revelations in the Panama Papers.
In May, the Panama Papers revealed that three scions of the Sharif family were among hundreds of Pakistani politicians and businessmen who have secreted their money in offshore tax havens. Since the expose, the PTI has been spearheading a campaign calling for accountability of the Sharif family. PPP and other opposition parties have joined in, though they are not pursuing it as vigorously as the PTI.
Imran Khan’s party, which has already threatened to shut the federal capital, boycotted Wednesday’s joint session of parliament, saying that attending the sitting would have endorsed Premier Sharif who, according to the party, has lost legitimacy after the Panamagate scandal.
Bilawal said that although some political leaders had ‘advised’ his party to stay away from the parliament session, which has been convened to discuss India’s war rhetoric and rights abuses in Indian occupied Kashmir, the PPP attended the session because it did not want to play politics on the Kashmir issue.
The PPP chairman said Tuesday’s conclave of parliamentary parties and party heads and the parliament’s joint session have sent out a strong message not only to India but to the international community that the Pakistani nation was united for Kashmir cause.
PTI springs surprise, boycotts joint session after Kashmir caucus
Bilawal, however, censured the government for what he called its weak foreign policy. He demanded that Premier Sharif appoint a full-time foreign minister who could steer the country’s foreign policy.
Earlier, Bilawal observed proceedings of the joint sitting of parliament from the speaker’s gallery.
“It is for the information of the house that PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto is present in the gallery. He is welcomed to witness proceedings of the joint sitting of parliament,” Sardar Ayaz Sadiq announced as the proceedings began.
Lawmakers in the house warmly welcomed the young chairman, who only listened to the speeches of Premier Sharif and opposition leader Syed Khursheed Shah.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 6th, 2016.