Bilawal vows to use only ‘constitutional way’ to dislodge govt

Days after the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) announced their long march on Islamabad, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Saturday vowed to use only "democratic and constitutional ways" to dislodge the government.

While addressing a press conference in Islamabad, he said the 11-party alliance will jointly challenge the government in Senate elections and Mehngai March — the name given to PDM long march to Islamabad scheduled for March 26 — will be initiated throughout the country.

Bilawal Bhutto said that the government cannot amend the Constitution by bringing an ordinance to allow open balloting in Senate elections.

"Attempts are now being made to rig the Senate elections by making the institutions controversial like in the 2018 elections," Bilawal said.

'Govt trying to pressure SC by bringing ordinance for open ballot in Senate elections'

He alleged that the government was trying to pressure the Supreme Court by bringing an ordinance. "Imran Khan is scared and he does not trust his members so an attempt is being made to conduct open balloting," he added.

The statement was made just hours before the PTI-led government promulgated the Election Amendment Ordinance 2021, under which upcoming Senate elections can be held through open balloting.

Bilawal said that the government has brought the Supreme Court in a position that whatever verdict it now gives will be controversial, questioning the timing of the move. "The matter is in the court now. They went ahead with it [promulgating the said ordinance] because they wanted to put pressure on the Supreme Court," he added.

The PPP chairman said that the government wanted to use every dirty trick in the book before the Senate elections and use institutions to fulfil its own interests. "If the government wanted to amend the Constitution, it should have talked about it. No party has been contacted in this regard. We want complete and comprehensive electoral reforms," he added.

Talking about the PDM’s recently announced long march to Islamabad, Bilawal said that the alliance was using its democratic right in doing so.

'PDM not backing out of resignation decision'

"The PDM has not backed out of its resignation decision. This is a democratic process. Had we resigned [earlier], the PTI would have won a majority in the Senate," he clarified.

Bilawal claimed that the PDM's plan of action is clear and that it will use no-confidence motion as its primary option to topple the government of Prime Minister Imran Khan. "We are taking part in the Senate elections together under the strategy we have all adopted," he added.

Reiterating his stance on the 18th Amendment, he said that every attempt to roll back the Constitutional amendment will be thwarted.

Read More: PM Imran fails to step down ‘respectfully’ by PDM deadline, says Bilawal

On dialogues with the government, the PPP chairman said that at the moment the PDM has decided not to talk but if it decides to negotiate, his party would then share its opinion on the matter.

Responding to Prime Minister Imran’s statement about not giving NRO-like deal to opposition leaders, Bilawal said that the premier has already given NRO to sugar and flour mafia as well as former TTP spokesperson Ehsanullah Ehsan.

"Now Imran Khan is asking for an NRO from PDM. But, he will not be allowed to flee. He will be held accountable for his every sin," he added.

To a question, Bilawal said that his father and PPP co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari had not made any statement regarding the dissolution of Balochistan Assembly. "We learn a lot from his political wisdom."