PPP not to join federal cabinet: Bilawal

ISLAMABAD: Chairman Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Bilawal Bhutto Zardari Friday reaffirmed that his party will not join the federal cabinet.

“Our decision not to join the government is final,” he said while responding to question during a media talk along with Aseefa Bhutto Zardari at the Parliament House.

Bilawal said the opposition members were afraid of Bibi Aseefa Bhutto Zardari and that’s why they made so much noise during her oath-taking.

This, he said, showed they were afraid of a Nihatti Larki (an unarmed girl).

“We will never be deterred by the bullying tactics, as we have faced dictators like General Zia and General Musharraf and we don’t fear jungle’s monkeys. We will face them with democratic means……Their actions are undermining the sanctity and reverence of the parliament,” he said.

The PPP chairman said his party had made a history when President Asif Ali Zardari addressed the parliament for the seventh time. He said in his address, the president pointed out the issues whose solution was the need of the hour.

“We should think of the country instead of petty differences. We should think of Pakistan and its people,” he said.

Bilawal said President Asif Ali Zardari gave a roadmap and a message of unity to deal with the issues confronting Pakistan at the moment.

“Unfortunately, the opposition is not interested in playing its role in the parliament. We should resolve the issues of the people but the only objective of the opposition is to get personal political interests and to get relief for their party leaders,” he said.

He defended the National Assembly speaker’s decision of suspending the membership of two PTI-backed Sunni Ittehad Council MNAs and said the opposition’s protest was not democratic and mature.

“Unfortunately, this behavior of the opposition members compelled the speaker to suspend the membership of two opposition members but it was necessary to set a precedent so that every member should adhere to the rules of the parliament.”

To a question about terrorism, Bilawal criticised the PTI government’s policy towards the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan.

He said the way the PTI government freed terrorists from prisons and invited the terrorists, who were in the Afghan prisons before the fall of Kabul, to enter Pakistan was a wrong decision.

Responding to a question about the opposition’s hue and cry during President Zardari’s address to the joint session, the PPP chairman said every political party had the right to do politic but on foreign affairs, diplomatic issues etc.

“We should have displayed unity in front of diplomats. These diplomats will tell their countries about this opposition’s behavior as well,” he said.

Replying to a question about reduction in the price of “Roti” in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and whether he will also instruct the Sindh and Balochistan governments, Bilawal said he did not think that reduction in the price of Roti’ come with any step of the government but he thought a few decisions of the interim government had not only harmed the growers but also the economy.

Regarding the recent visit of the Saudi foreign minister, Bilawal said he considered it the most successful visit. “Saudi Arabia will play a major role in investment in Pakistan and this will provide employment opportunities to our people,” he added.

He said it was unfortunate that when the Saudi foreign minister was in Pakistan, a PTI politician accused Saudi Arabia of playing a role in removing Imran Khan’s government.

On the topic of reconciliation, he said President Zardari’s address to the joint session gave a clear message of the need for reconciliation and unity.

“Our three demands are about the national charter of economy, national charter of reconciliation and national charter of judicial reforms which we have been raising continuously,” he said.

He said the manner in which the PTI did its politics had not only harmed national reconciliation but also Pakistan, its economy and the PTI.

He said every political party should try to give relief to the people.

He appreciated the Sindh police for thwarting a terror attack in Landhi Friday morning and said it was also a reminder that terrorism was once again raising its ugly head in Pakistan.

He said the federal and provincial governments will have to take action against the terrorists and engage the neighboring country to take action against them.

Regarding the JUI’s protest movement expected in Sindh, Bilawal said, “If they protest, then we will facilitate them. Maulana Fazl is a senior politician. He is given wrong impression by his people that they lost the elections due to rigging. He should investigate whether there was rigging or his own people were giving this wrong impression to hide their weaknesses,” he said.

He said the JUI chief should have protested against Gandapur in Dera Ismail Khan, Peshawar and other parts of KP. “Does he think rigging was done in Larkana and fair and transparent elections were held in KP?” he questioned.