The act signals a new trend wherein political rivals are united on an issue of national significance. PHOTO: FILE
Pakistan Peoples Party patron-in-chief Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s decision to welcome Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif personally during his visit to Tharparkar was praised by leaders across the political spectrum. The PPP leader’s gesture came weeks after his father, PPP President Asif Ali Zardari broke ground on an energy project in Sindh with the PM.
On Wednesday, the PM visited the residence of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairman Imran Khan, a staunch critic of the PML-N government. Observers say this signals a new trend wherein political rivals are united on an issue of national significance, putting aside their differences in order to form consensus.
“It seems our political forces have matured with the passage of time,” commented Nazir Ahmad Bughio, PPP MNA from Larkana. “They want to pave the road to strengthen democratic norms and are burying the past.” He added, “We should end the old culture of rivalry and instead create an environment conducive to democratic values in political parties and society in general.” Bughio said he expected that a similarly friendly reception would be accorded to PPP leaders on subsequent visits to Punjab.
PPP leaders give credit for this attitude to the party’s chairperson Benazir Bhutto. “We pursued the idea of reconciliation,” said Naveed Chaudhry, a veteran PPP leader from Lahore, adding, “Bilawal is taking the ideology of our late leader forward.”
While commenting that the party accepted the results of last year’s elections, despite serious reservations, Chaudhry said the PPP has extended all possible support to the PML-N government. He remarked that during Zardari’s tenure as president, Punjab chief minister Shahbaz Sharif avoided meetings with him in Lahore. “When Pakistan is facing isolation due to a number of internal and external factors, all political forces should be united and steer the country out of these crises,” he added.
“It is good for all of political forces to keep their differences limited to the extent of elections,” said Muhammad Pervaiz Malik, PML-N’s MNA from Lahore, adding, “After that they should think about Pakistan.”
The Awami National Party’s Senator Shahi Syed said the party’s leadership is ‘very happy’ with these developments and hopes to see the trend continue. Additionally, PML-Q secretary general Mushahid Hussain Syed said such consensus was a positive development and good omen for democracy in Pakistan.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 13th, 2014.
COMMENTS (7)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
@Mirza - people dont hate bilwal. People hate how PPP is trying to reinvent itself by putting Bilawal forward, basically to get another chance to destroy the country.
How long has PPP ruled sindh? Sindh is getting worse day by day because of PPP. We want PPP out of politics. We have had enough of PPP politics. Time for them to leave Pakistan alone they have made enough money out of it.
He isn't burying the hatchet. He is simply showing that Sindh is his and he is the host n pm is a guest. Clever move. More n more he plays the Sindh Card
It is not a politics, but a perpetual fear that has overcome PPP leadership including its Chairman Bilawal that Sharif may not put them behind bars on account of malpractices and corruption. That is the reason that PPP wants to be friendly with PML-N and its leadership, and on the other hand, during the PPP regime, CM Punjab Mr. Shahbaz Sharif, never extended protocol to Mr. Zardari, being the President of the Country, and the PM Mr. Gilani. Contrarily, the CM Sindh accompanied by Bilawal is always in forefront and in waiting line to welcome the PM Mr. Sharif. This is not politics, but fear from reprisal actions, which is not known in the diary of events of Bhutto families.
The negative attitude and hatred against young Bilawal proves that his enemies are truly afraid of his skills and future. When IK entered politics at a mature age two decades ago nobody reacted as he did not seem to have any future. No matter what Bilawal does standing tall against Taliban or supporting the rightful acts he is going to be hated by some. The fact is Bilawal knows better Urdu than his grandfather ZAB and he is in a similar mold but at half his age. While Commando Mushy was bombing 80 years old leaders and keeping many in jail there has not been a single political prisoner in Pakistan since new democracy took over.
Mr. Nazir Ahmad Bughio, PPP MNA, is requested to forget the words 'political maturity.' Presently, it is demeaning and not what Pakistan wants when compared to the Thar Tragedy. What Pakistan needs with frightful urgency is the application of development funds not "fanciful flattery." Salams
But the real question is...did Baby Bhutto enjoy his 5 star lunch?
Haha, hatchet? Two allies are meeting in Thar, not enemies. PPP didn't prosecute PMLN for corruption in its 5 years and PMLN won't pursue PPP for accountability. There is a hand shake, not a hatchet between the PMLN and PPP.