PHOTO: AFP/File
He was talking to a press conference in Malakand District, where he is contesting from NA-8 during his visit of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.
“I have been receiving complaints from all over the country that level playing field is not being given to our party and ‘special’ parties are being favoured. The Election Commission of Pakistan and interim government should take it seriously”, said Bilawal adding they have registered complaints and will take up the issue on the floor of the Senate.”
He further said that his next plan is to go to Quetta via Islamabad, where he will discuss the issue with party leadership and the overall situation in the country.
“A free fair election is our right,” he said adding that unfair elections result in weak government and a weak government can’t address public issues or problems. The PPP chairman further said the problems Pakistan is facing include economical, border tensions, extremism are very serious issues and only real public representatives can address them,
Regarding terror incidents in the country he said that terrorists want to create fear in the country and want to affect the elections but PPP will not boycott the elections.
To a question regarding the National Action Plan (NAP) Bilawal said that from its first day, NAP has not been properly implemented. “The steps against extremism and hate speeches have not been taken (as per the NAP), judicial reforms aspect has not been implemented and the way we had to strengthen our security forces police has also not been implemented,” he said, adding that he has raised his voice whenever NAP has been violated and he has been repeatedly spoken about its implementation.
He said that he will raise the issues of Malakand whether he wins or loses the election since the issues of this area are not given time and attention.
Regarding a coalition with PTI, he said it is difficult for him to decide between the PTI and PML-N since they have ideological issues.
“The PPP manifesto shall be a fundamental component of the coalition,” he said if they were in need to opt for a coalition. “Those who implement our manifesto we will prefer that (party) to make an alliance with,” he said.
“The terrorists want to compromise of freedom and they are against democracy. If Iraq and Afghanistan can hold elections despite terrorism then why not in Pakistan,” said Bilawal while answering a question regarding attempts to sabotage the elections.
Regarding the Supreme Court’s Fund for Diamer-Bhasha and Mohmand dams, Bilawal said that he does not doubt the chief justice’s intentions, but, the construction of dams did not fall under the apex court’s jurisdiction. “The judiciary should prioritise giving justice to families who are waiting like I am waiting for justice in the Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto cases."
Meanwhile, the Bhutto scion criticised Imran Khan for using abusive language to refer to opposition voters. “If you use such language against the public...that is absolutely outrageous,” he said.
“You become the prime minister of the whole country not just of your supporters. If you come to Karachi and call supporters of your opponents ‘living corpses’ and in Punjab, you call those opposing you 'donkeys'. This is the highest insult of the public and national leaders have a responsibility to avoid this”, concluded Bilawal.
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