Bilawal holds consultations with Shehbaz, Fazl

PPP chairman says opposition parties are on same page on question of PTI govt’s fate

LAHORE:

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Tuesday held separate meetings with PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif and JUI-F chief Mualana Fazlur Rehman as he claimed that all the three major opposition parties are on the same page on the question of the PTI led federal government’s fate.

The meetings took place against the backdrop of an all parties’ conference (APC) that the opposition has announced to hold right after Eidul Azha to devise a joint strategy against the federal government.

Bilawal, who was on a three-day trip to Lahore, first met with Fazlur Rehman in a private hotel. Later, holding a press conference, the PPP chief said he and Fazl thoroughly discussed the callous attitude of the government towards the peoples’ economic woes.

“We also discussed the legislation being drafted to curb terrorism and to meet requirements of the FATF [Financial Action Task Force]. The PTI government wants to amass dictatorial powers,” he said.

لاہور: پاکستان پیپلزپارٹی کے چیئرمین بلاول بھٹو زرداری کی ماڈل ٹاؤن میں شہباز شریف کی رہائش گاہ آمد

لاہور: چیئرمین بلاول بھٹو زرداری اور شہباز شریف میں ملکی سیاسی صورت حال پر تبادلہ خیال کیلئے ملاقات@BBhuttoZardari @CMShehbaz pic.twitter.com/0Uttf425Og

— PPP (@MediaCellPPP) July 28, 2020

He said not only all political parties but also the people of Pakistan believe that this government needs to be sent packing. Bilawal, however, clarified that the opposition will decide its course of action to remove the PTI government at the APC.

“We will decide whether there should be an in-house change or a new election,” he said.

Fazl said after taking down the government, the first priority would be to return the mandate of the people and then to bring in a legitimate government. “With a legitimate government in place, our priority would be to uplift country’s damaged economy,” he said.

لائیو: پاکستان پیپلزپارٹی کے چیئرمین بلاول بھٹو زرداری اور شہباز شریف کی لاہور میں ملاقات کے بعد ہونے والی میڈیا ٹاک https://t.co/hGddVDe8mZ

— PPP (@MediaCellPPP) July 28, 2020

To a question about the PPP and the PML-N not extending their all out support to the JUI-F’s Azadi March last year, Fazl said different parties had different preparation level and one cannot blame the other parties.

“However, there have been falls out [of the failure of Azadi March]. Soon after Eid, a Rehbar committee would be formed which would decide the agenda of the APC after which the APC would be held.

Later, Bilawal met with Shehbaz Sharif at the latter’s residence.

لاہور: پاکستان پیپلزپارٹی کے چیئرمین بلاول بھٹو زرداری کی مقامی ہوٹل میں مولانا فضل الرحمان سے ملاقات

لاہور: چیئرمین بلاول بھٹو زرداری اور مولانا فضل الرحمان کے درمیان ملکی سیاسی صورت حال پر بات چیت@BBhuttoZardari @MoulanaOfficial pic.twitter.com/DmWmRYVnHL

— PPP (@MediaCellPPP) July 28, 2020

Talking to the media after the meeting, Shehbaz said all opposition parties agree that the government in its two-year rule has inflicted a great loss to the country. “Globally commodities have devalued due to coronavirus; however, in Pakistan it is the other way round.”

He said it was beyond Prime Minister Imran Khan’s capacity to fix Pakistan’s problems. “The continuity of Imran Khan’s government would be a risk for Pakistan.”

He said they have agreed to call a Rehbar Committee meeting after Eid which will decide the agenda of APC and later an APC date would be announced.

Bilawal said the opposition parties are all on the same page regarding the fate of the PTI government.

“پاکستان کے عوام کا ایک ہی موقف ہے کہ عمران خان کو جانا ہوگا۔”
چیئرمین پاکستان پیپلز پارٹی بلاول بھٹو زرداری@BBhuttoZardari pic.twitter.com/iAsUNzx2TF

— PPP (@MediaCellPPP) July 28, 2020

“This government now needs to go. All opposition parties are standing strong for the rights of the people and for the betterment of Pakistan. I hope that the APC would yield positive results.”

Bilawal said Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood who left the PPP government to become a hero on Raymond Davis issue is silent on an ordinance issued to facilitate convicted Indian spy Kulbushan Jadhav.

To a question regarding a sit-in in Islamabad, Shehbaz Sharif said his party believes in politics of logic and works in interest of Pakistan unlike the ruling PTI whose marathon sit-in in 2014 resulted in cancellation of a visit by the Chinese president.

“Opposition parties have the support of masses and this government would topple, even before the opposition parties reach Islamabad to stage a protest,” Bilawal chimed in.