Bilawal backtracks on being at odds with PML-N stance

KARACHI:

Apparently backtracking from his previous stance, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Wednesday maintained that the opposition parties at their all-parties conference in September had not “stopped anyone” from mentioning the names of individuals belonging to state institutions.

Speaking to a private TV channel, the scion of the Bhutto dynasty played down speculations that his party was at odds with the PML-N, its ally in the opposition alliance, for its narrative against the security establishment.

He claimed that opposition parties during their September 20 preparatory meeting of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), the alliance formed to send the PTI-led government packing, had neither decided to mention names, nor stopped anyone from doing so.

The PPP chairman’s statement has come a few days after he had explicitly distanced himself and his party from PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif’s stance, saying that he was “shocked” when he heard the former premier mention the names of the army chief and ISI DG at the opposition’s rally in Gujranwala.

“It [Sharif’s claims during his speech] came as a shock for me because we don't usually speak this way at rallies,” Bilawal said in an interview with BBC Urdu.

Bilawal further said naming the military leadership was not on the PDM’s agenda decided during the all parties conference held before the Gujranwala rally and he was waiting for Sharif to present evidence to back up his claims.

Neither Sharif nor his party had informed the other parties in the PDM during the preparation of its agenda that they were going to mention the names of the military leadership, he maintained.

“Mentioning the names [of the military leadership] was Sharif and his party’s personal decision,” he had said.

In his latest statement, the PPP chairman ruled out disagreements within the opposition alliance on the issue.

“The opposition parties had agreed on a joint narrative which was also made public in the form of a joint resolution issued by the forum,” he said.

“However, individual parties can have their own narratives and action plans, he said, adding that this was “part of politics” and the “right to expression”.

“All parties in the PDM are unanimous against the interference of establishment in politics. This problem must be addressed.”

Bilawal said despite having separate political agendas, the PPP, PML-N, JUI-F and other constituent parties of the PDM were all on the same page when it came to democracy and the constitutional role of institutions.

He added that attempts were made to divide the PDM but they would not succeed and the PTI government would be sent packing in February.

Federal Information Minister Shibli Faraz had described the PPP chairman’s interview with BBC Urdu as “clear evidence” that the PDM was not on one page.

“Bilawal’s statement is clear proof that the PDM does not have a single narrative,” the minister wrote on Twitter.

“Bilawal has [made it clear] that he does not trust Nawaz Sharif. It has now been proven that the PDM is a group of people working for their own interests and lust for power,” he added.