Bilawal criticises govt's 'one-sided policies'

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Thursday criticised the federal government for adopting "one-sided policies", stating that decisions made through consensus and aligned with the people's will are more effective and easier to implement.

The Bhutto scion made these remarks in his address at the swearing-in ceremony of newly elected members of Ittehad Union of All Pakistan Employees of OGDCL.

Speaking on the occasion, Bilawal said in every system, policies are crafted to reflect the aspirations and expectations of the people. "There is no system in the world where a government can sustain without the support of the people."

He emphasised that history has repeatedly shown that systems operating against the will of the people cannot survive. "This is relevant even today in Pakistan."

He slammed the federal government for taking "unilateral decisions" without consulting its allies.

"The government occasionally adds to its own issues through one-sided policies devoid of consensus. Decisions that are consensus-based and adhere to the desires of the people are more effective and easier to implement," Bilawal said.

"The 18th Amendment cannot be tampered with today because it was based on consensus and the will of the people," he added.

"Policies being made today could have seen more success if the allies were consulted."

Bilawal noted that the PPP and labourers unitedly attained a Constitution for the country by struggling shoulder to shoulder with PPP founder Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. "This was the first time the labourers in the country were given unprecedented rights."

He reminded that the labourers also struggled with Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, who faced dictators like General Zia and General Musharraf with the "support of her brothers".

He stated that when given an opportunity, the PPP always upheld the labourers' agenda.

"The labour policy of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was devolved and put into practice first by the government of Sindh. The party has protected and furthered the cause of labour rights in the federal and provincial systems," he said.