Bilawal supports new provinces but with a caveat

LAHORE:

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, sensing political frailties in all-too important province of Punjab, on Tuesday tread cautiously when he spoke about dwindling space for allies and paucity of resources at the disposal of the Governor House but at the same time showered praise on the provincial government led by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz.

Speaking during an interaction with media bureau chiefs and bigwigs, the PPP chairman backed the move aims at creating another province in Punjab, all the while deflecting questions regarding new provinces in Sindh and elsewhere, stating new provinces should first be created where political consensus already exists, instead of launching an ambitious bid to establish "20 new provinces" without agreement.

The PPP chairman pointed out that consensus already existed in the National Assembly on the creation of new provinces.

The Bhutto scion is in the provincial capital on a four-day visit, during which he is expected to shake up the party's organisational deck in Punjab by unveiling a major reorganisation of its district and divisional chapters. The reshuffle is expected to hand new responsibilities to 63 party workers at the district and divisional levels.

"Before making 20 new provinces, those provinces on which there is agreement should be created first," Bilawal said, adding that if proposals already put forward were meant to be implemented, then they should be acted upon immediately. "The work that was supposed to happen is already underway."

He pointed out that the Punjab Assembly had passed a resolution for the creation of a new province and enacted a local government system, but said Sindh's local government framework remained stronger in comparison.

Bilawal also said that a single parliament could reasonably pass two constitutional amendments, but beyond that there was little room. "The Constitution is not a document meant to be amended repeatedly," he said.

Asked whether he intended to become prime minister, Bilawal responded that he would assume the office if the public voted for him. When pressed further on whether he would become prime minister under the current circumstances, he jokingly raised his hands to his ears, drawing laughter.

Without mentioning the PML-N-led government in Punjab, Bilawal said allies in Punjab would also need to be given political space and clarified that the PPP had no intention of taking ministries in Punjab at present.

Continuing with his veiled criticism against Maryam Nawaz's government, he said that if a local government law had been passed in Sindh at the cusp of elections, people would have taken him to task.

The passage of a new law helped the government push back local body's elections to a later time.

Furthermore, when asked why wasn't he spending more time in Punjab, a weak pitch for the party that requires attention, he said he had suggested that his political rivals appoint their own governor in Sindh and visit the province, but lamented that they did not do so. "We come to Punjab, yet it is still not tolerated," he said.

When asked about banning the PTI, Bilawal stressed that reconciliation was the only path forward for the country amid rising political tensions, saying that political stability could not be achieved without dialogue and compromise.

"If reconciliation happens, everyone will have to unite so that political stability improves," he said and warned that an environment where political actors could not even speak to each other would only deepen crises, particularly when instability emerged in a province.

Bilawal said that he did not have any personal differences with Imran Khan though he disagreed with his methods.

"Reconciliation is needed, everyone must come together so we can move towards political stability."

Referring to the 2022 vote of no confidence that toppled PTI founder Imran Khan from power, Bilawal said the PPP had introduced it for the first time in Pakistan's history and successfully sent a sitting prime minister home.

He accused PTI of maintaining a persistently confrontational posture, saying its approach continued to place not only the party itself but the entire system under strain.

He claimed that governance had failed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa under PTI's control and warned that if such conditions continued, prospects for political reconciliation would diminish further. "When the PPP is ready to take a step forward, the situation deteriorates on the other side," he said.

Bilawal also touched on political tolerance, recalling that he had visited Nawaz Sharif in Kot Lakhpat Jail, yet once released, attacks resumed. "It doesn't sit well with some people," he said, lamenting that while he refrained from criticising anyone during visits to Punjab, restraint was often not reciprocated.

He said he had suggested that his political rivals appoint their own governor in Sindh and visit the province, but lamented that they did not do so. "We come to Punjab, yet it is still not tolerated," he said.

Responding to a question he visited Nawaz Sharif at Kot Lakhpat, would he also go to Adiala, Bilawal replied, "Yes, I went to meet Nawaz Sharif, but as soon as he came out, he attacked us in a rally."

He said the Punjab governor lacked powers or resources, but Sardar Saleem Haider is still working very well with dedication.

Despite his subdued complaints he did praise Maryam Nawaz, stating that the Punjab chief minister is also doing good work.