Quetta visit: Bilawal demands Nisar’s resignation

Say Nisar’s policies had failed to curb terrorism in the country

QUETTA: The Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman on Sunday reiterated his party’s stance and demanded that Interior Minister Chaudhary Nisar Ali Khan step down for failing to curb terrorism.

Talking to media persons outside the Civil Hospital in Quetta, Bilawal Bhutto criticised the interior minister saying his [Nisar’s] policies had failed to secure Pakistan from terrorists.

“Chaudhary Nisar is always found hiding when there is an act of terrorism in the country killing scores of people. However, he is available to settle his personal scores by holding news conferences against opposition members,” Bilawal said.

He warned that if the government did not concede to his party’s four-point plan, PPP would announce its strategy to launch a movement. He gave the government time until December 27 (Benazir Bhutto’s death anniversary) to decide whether they would agree with the points put forward by the PPP.

After meeting the people injured in the New Sariab Police Training Centre near Quetta last week, a teary-eyed Bilawal said he knew the pain of losing innocent lives in mass killings.

“My family and the people of Balochistan share the same pain… I am no ordinary politician. I am the son of Benazir Bhutto. I am also a victim of this terrorism,” he said.

“I met people inside. Ten are injured and recovering. They said their treatment is under way. But that they can get better treatment in Karachi... In my personal capacity I will see that they get help from the Sindh government,” he added.

Bilawal further said that PPP had always raised its voice on the issue of missing persons demanding their immediate recovery and providing relief to the affected families.

He said when there was a terror attack on the Karachi Airport or the Hazara Community people were killed in cold blood and some elements demanded the PPP government leave. “But now no one is demanding resignations from the PML-N government following the deadly terrorist attacks and killings. On the contrary, the interior minister is caught in photo sessions with notified terrorists and heads of the banned outfits,” he stated.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 29^th, 2016.