Bilawal slams efforts of pushing Pakistan back to 'stone-age'

PPP patron-in-chief criticised those who were trying to spread Islam by force.

THATTA: Patron in chief of Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Saturday accused the Taliban of trying to drag the Pakistan back to the "stone-age."

Addressing a gathering in Makli Stadium during the closing ceremony of a two-week cultural festival in Sindh, Bilawal urged the country to rise up against threats.

"The Taliban want to impose the law of terror in the country, but I want to tell them, if you have to live in Pakistan you will have to follow its Constitution," he said.

"We don't accept the law of terrorists" he added. "Some people are trying to bring back the stone-age era in the country in the name of Islam."

Terming Sindh as the Bab-ul-Islam, because the advent of Islam in sub-continent was through the province, criticised those who were trying to spread it by force.

"No one can teach them about preaching of Islam," Bialwal said, adding that Islam teaches peace and tranquility.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's government has been under fire from political opponents for failing to mount a strong response to the upsurge in attacks, as it tries to broker a peace deal.

The government has for months built ground for talks with the Taliban, but the head of Pakistan’s second largest political party spoke in favour of military action against them on Saturday.

While the talks are still in a stage of infancy, there were some initial advances with all sides agreeing to halt violent activity for the duration of the talks.

"The terrorists should think of the time when the whole nation will stand against them," Bilawal added.

"We are Muslims and the terrorist groups should not try to teach us Islam."

The PPP patron in chief said that enemies of the country had launched terrorism, but the Sindh festival had brought smiles on the faces of the people all over Pakistan.