Political rivals trying to avert, flee jail: Bilawal

In a veiled reference to PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif and former PTI chairman Imran Khan, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari remarked on Sunday that one political rival was entering the upcoming general elections to evade imprisonment, while the other sought to end his incarceration.

“PPP is the only party that is contesting the polls to serve the people,” the former foreign minister maintained while addressing a party convention in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa’s Kohat. This marked the second occasion that Bilawal has criticised Nawaz – the first time at the party's convention in Lower Dir, where he advised the PML-N supremo to base his electoral strategy on political strength rather than relying on the support of the "selectors" for securing the premiership for the fourth time.

The PPP chief said his party was told not to organise conventions in the province citing security concerns. However, he added that the PPP jiyalas (die-hard activists) were unfazed by these threats and exhibited great courage by organising the event to accomplish the mission of his slain mother, former party chairperson Benazir Bhutto.

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Speaking about the Supreme Court recently taking up the presidential reference against the death penalty handed down to his grandfather and PPP founder, former premier Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Bilawal hoped that Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa would use the opportunity to rectify the mistakes of the institution.

On April 2, 2011, the then-president Asif Ali Zardari approached the apex court through a presidential reference under Article 186 of the Constitution to seek its opinion on revisiting the trial of the PPP founder. Bilawal called for the “correction of constitutional and legal errors" in the infamous case.
The PPP chairman emphasised that a favourable decision by the SC alone would not suffice, demanding that the nation should be informed about the facilitators of this “murder”.

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“From General Zia to the judges, lawyers and politicians -- they are the criminals,” he added. Bilawal hoped that justice would be provided not only legally but keeping in mind the historical context as well. “The entire world should find out why a leader of the Muslim world was sent to the gallows,” he continued.

The former foreign minister observed that if the apex court addressed the issue itself, it would be a source of renewed hope for the people of Pakistan as they too could except to receive justice for themselves. Bilawal maintained that contrary to other parties that were engaging in the politics of hatred, the PPP was focusing on resolving public issues. He added that his struggle was against poverty and inflation as he highlighted his commitment to stand against these challenges rather than running away from them.