Bilawal advises PTI to 'continue pursuing' Imran's legal battle but prioritise parliamentary duties
Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari speaking at the floor of the National Assembly (NA) on June 25, 2024. PHOTO: FILE
Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman, Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, has criticised the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) for leaving the assembly, stating that both the party and the country are suffering the consequences of their decision.
Speaking during a session of the National Assembly on Wednesday, Bilawal said, "I repeatedly advised PTI not to leave the assembly".
"Today, they are suffering, and so is the country."
He urged PTI to continue fighting the legal battle for its incarcerated chairman Imran Khan, but to prioritise serving the people by returning to the parliament.
Bilawal expressed concern over the current state of politics, adding that the behaviour of politicians has turned politics into something undesirable for the younger generation.
"By watching our conduct, these children will not want to become politicians. We have turned politics into a disgrace," he remarked.
He stressed the need to fulfil their responsibilities by creating employment opportunities for the youth.
Referring to the political environment, he criticised provincial leaders for engaging in abusive language during rallies instead of solving public issues.
"If a chief minister stands in a rally cursing the government and judiciary, he cannot serve his province’s people," Bilawal said, pointing to recent remarks made by CM Gandapur during PTI's Islamabad rally.
K-P Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur on Monday came under fire for his tirade against journalists during the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) power show in Islamabad, several federal ministers and senators condemned the main opposition party's firebrand leader.
"If the founder of the PTI is not legally released within one to two weeks, we will have him freed ourselves," the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa chief minister said during Sunday's event, announcing to hold a rally in Lahore in the face of any obstacles or restrictions in his typical tone.
He further stated that PTI's chairman has been in jail for months, urging the party to fight his case in court while continuing to serve the public.
"Politics has reached a point where we don’t even shake hands with each other anymore," he said.
Bilawal also called for the formation of a parliamentary committee involving all political parties to address the ongoing issues.
"We can hold rallies, and so can they, but we need to create a parliamentary committee to resolve these matters," he suggested.