Imran must face music for attacking institutions: Bilawal

ISLAMABAD:

The government and its coalition partner – PPP – demanded on Saturday that PTI founder Imran Khan must face the music for his inflammatory statements against the country's institutions.

They called for accountability if the former prime minister's remarks on social media were verified.

Speaking in the National Assembly, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari issued a stern warning, asserting that if Imran indeed made the contentious statements, he must face the consequences as dictated by the constitution.

Bilawal condemned Imran for allegedly launching an attack on constitutional institutions to revive his political fortunes, saying, "The people of Pakistan are no longer on board with conspiracy and foul language, nor do they back 'prisoner number 804'—a reference to the incarcerated leader."

Bilawal stressed that the PTI founder's controversial remarks, which have hit the headlines, were an attempt to undermine democratic institutions.

"If Imran made this statement, he must be held accountable. His party will face problems if the statement is indeed his. If not, then the opposition leader needs to clear the air," Bilawal insisted.

He questioned whether the X account responsible for the statement was managed by Ali Amin Gandapur or Sher Afzal Marwat, pointing out that similar activities have been ongoing since the no-confidence motion.

The former foreign minister urged the PTI leadership to conduct an internal probe to verify whether the recent statement attributed to its founder on X was genuine.

He questioned who within PTI encourages such inflammatory remarks whenever the country seems to be on the path to political stability, stressing that these comments only exacerbate problems for both the party and the nation.

He also called on PTI to transcend its self-serving politics, criticizing the party for celebrating victories while accusing rigging when faced with defeat.

To uphold democracy, he insisted, the nation's decisions must be respected and followed.

Bilawal accused certain individuals and political parties of plotting against the country, listing several attacks including dismissing the no-confidence motion, attempting to hold elections before the army chief's appointment, and trying to make a mountain out of a molehill regarding the army chief's position.

He hinted at a major revelation about the propaganda surrounding Forms 45 and 47, stating, "A major story is about to come to light regarding these forms. When the conspiracy is laid bare, those responsible will have to face the music."

"These people [PTI] have been scheming around the Form-45 and Form-47. A big story about it is going to unfold soon. They won't be able to face the nation when the evidence is revealed," Bilawal said.

"These are the candidates who can show you the Form-45 from every polling station," he said. He added that the PTI loses whenever there is a by-election and the allied parties win.

 

'PTI's real face exposed'

 

Meanwhile, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif criticised PTI for showing its true colours.

He proposed disbanding the special committee set up by the NA speaker to restore parliamentary prestige, arguing it had turned into a vehicle to address PTI's concerns rather than serving its original purpose.

Asif accused PTI of playing a double game, as evidenced by Imran's recent X post. He lamented that PTI had avoided engaging with the treasury benches, instead seeking to talk to the establishment.

Asif argued that while past political errors are acknowledged, the current focus should be on upholding the constitution and the rule of law.

He recounted walking out of the committee's initial meeting, observing that it seemed solely designed to cater to PTI's agenda. "What I predicted on that day has now been proven right," Asif noted.

He denounced the language used by PTI leaders, particularly Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ali Amin Gandapur, comparing it to rhetoric used by separatists. Asif emphasized that Punjab welcomes everyone and that Gandapur's speech undermined national unity.

 

'Enemy of Pakistan's interests'

 

Similarly, PPP's senior leader Raja Pervaiz Ashraf also lambasted PTI, branding its leadership as the enemy of Pakistan's interests.

Speaking in the National Assembly, Ashraf accused PTI of opposing consensus, democracy, and peace. He criticised the controversial tweet attributed to PTI's leadership, claiming it was intended to stir the pot rather than contribute to national stability.

Ashraf highlighted the contributions of Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari's grandfather, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, for establishing voting rights and the constitution, contrasting it with the legacy of the opposition leader's grandfather, whom he accused of laying the groundwork for dictatorship.

He praised President Asif Ali Zardari for restoring parliamentary powers through the 18th Amendment and warned that PTI's current path would lead to ruin.

Urging unity and consensus to tackle the country's crises, Ashraf condemned PTI's actions on May 9, which involved attacks on defence installations and dishonouring national martyrs. He affirmed that the nation stands firmly behind the armed forces.