PPP warns against political wrangling

Top leaders of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) asserted on Sunday that the country was poor only in the lowly minds of the bureaucracy in Islamabad, cautioning that opposition parties were clamouring about election rigging to perpetuate economic instability.

Speaking at a public gathering in Garhi Khuda Bux to mark the 45th death anniversary of party founder Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Co-Chairman President Asif Zardari emphasized the necessity for political figures to unite around a ‘charter of reconciliation’.

“Let’s come together and find common ground,” Zardari proposed. “And if consensus proves elusive,” he continued, “then let's step back and reconsider. Persistent infighting among politicians only leads to public suffering, jeopardizes future generations, and dims the prospects of progress,” he added.

The president urged politicians to be cognizant of the repercussions of their actions, especially concerning future generations. He added that the country suffered permanent and long-term losses because of similar mistakes in the past.

“People are still grappling with the aftermath of those errors,” he remarked, refraining from pinpointing any specific incident. Expressing regret, he lamented that politicians often engage in battles even over matters of public welfare. He underscored that holding power should solely be about serving the masses.

Zardari reiterated that it wasn’t Pakistan’s destiny, nor that of its people, to perennially endure poverty, as the nation is abundantly endowed with resources. “The notion of poverty only exists in the narrow minds of Islamabad’s bureaucracy, which has perpetuated our impoverishment,” he asserted.

In his address, the president also alluded to the Supreme Court's acknowledgment, recognizing that the late Bhutto's conviction followed a mistrial. He expressed satisfaction that his efforts had led to the Supreme Court issuing this ruling.

In his address, Chairman Bilawal criticised the opposition parties, saying that they wanted to revive the former PNA—a reference to the nine-party Pakistan National Alliance formed against the then PPP government led by Zulfikar Ali Bhutto in 1977.

He described the nascent opposition grouping as ‘PNA Part Two’. “They are trying to beat the drum of election rigging and in its garb they want to bring political instability once again, and they also want to see the economic instability continue,” he said.

According to BIlawal, the opposition political figures were serving their “egoistic interests” only. He reminded them how a similar movement against his grandfather after the 1977 elections had opened the door for a military dictatorship which lasted for more than 10 years.

Read: Zardari pursues court for presidential immunity

“Those nine stars [PNA] believed they could overthrow Bhutto and establish their own government,” he remarked. Warning of the looming threat of military intervention if politicians failed to prioritize national reconciliation and persisted in trading insults, he cautioned against the detrimental consequences.

“It won’t foster Pakistan’s development or strengthen its economy; rather, it will only undermine democracy and harm the people,” Bilawal conveyed to the audience. He urged political leaders to abandon confrontations, verbal attacks, and sit-in protests, and instead engage in constructive political dialogue at the table.

He believed that only through dialogue could politicians effect improvements in the system without inflicting harm on the people. “Democracy is our politics; and people are the fountain of power, and to this day, the PPP adheres to these fundamental principles,” he emphasized.

Bilawal underscored the necessity for judicial reforms, noting that 90% of the Charter of Democracy (CoD) points had been accomplished, with only the remaining 10% pertaining to the judiciary. He also addressed the historic low in people's trust in the institution, stating, "We must work to restore this trust.”

Referring to the apex court’s opinion on Bhutto’s conviction, Bilawal said it took the court 45 years after the conviction of Bhutto and 12 years after the filing of the presidential reference to come to some justice-based conclusion.

He emphasised that the purpose of the judicial reforms is to expedite the dispensation of justice to the people.

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, PPP Sindh’s President MPA Nisar Ahmed Khuhro, former

Sindh CM Syed Qaim Ali Shah and other leaders also expressed their views on the occasion.