I coined the term ‘selected’ and know who’s the one, says Bilawal

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has said that being the largest opposition party in the Senate it was his party’s right to elect opposition leader in the upper house of parliament while rejecting allegations of being a “selected opposition”.

“I coined the term ‘selected’ and I know who should be labelled as one,” Bilawal said on Saturday while addressing a press conference in Karachi, in an apparent reference to criticism hurled at his party by Maryam Nawaz and other PML-N leaders.

The term ‘selected’ was first used by the PPP chairman for Prime Minister Imran Khan, accusing him of coming into power through backdoor.

Also read: Clear line drawn between PDM, PPP: Maryam Nawaz

Battle lines have been clearly drawn as harsh statements are given publically by the two major parties in the opposition Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM).

Though a ceasefire between PPP and PML-N has been announced, yet it apparently could not save the six-month old 10-party-anti-government alliance, which now seems to be “dead as a dodo”.

Background interviews with the lawmakers from both the parties suggest that the PPP appears to be all set to part ways with the PDM – and the PML-N – allowing Prime Minister Imran having had the last laugh.

Bilawal in today’s presser, responded to criticism over former prime minister Yousuf Raza Gillani’s appointment as the opposition leader in the upper house of the parliament.

Soon after the appointment on Friday, PML-N hit out at the PPP accusing it of securing government-backed Senators’ support for the key Senate post.

Also read: PPP is using PDM for personal gains: PML-N

However, PPP which has 21 seats in Senate rejected the allegation saying that it was supported by independent lawmakers and two other opposition parties.

“I respect the leaders of PML-N including Maryam Nawaz. I have never criticised Maryam during difficult times and will never do so in future,” said the PPP chief.

Bilawal also urged the PML-N leaders to stop mudslinging against his party, saying that it will harm the opposition alliance, which was formed last year to dislodge Prime Minister Imran Khan’s government.

“We [PDM] will give tough time to the government inside and outside the parliament and will continue our struggle to overthrow the government,” said Bilawal.

Earlier in the day, PML-N Vice President Maryam said a clear line had been drawn between PDM and PPP over its move for the “smallest slot” in Senate which she said damaged PDM’s struggle for democracy.