Bilawal says dialogues cannot be held with the opposition by putting a gun to their heads
ISLAMABAD, April 20 (SABAH): Backing Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) President Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s stance on talks with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan over the election date, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman and Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Thursday said that dialogues cannot be held with the opposition by putting a gun to their heads.
Addressing a press conference, the Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that a conspiracy is being hatched to impose a “one unit policy” in the country.
Earlier on Thursday, Maulana Fazl rejected the possibility of holding negotiations with the PTI despite the directives issued by the Supreme Court a day earlier. The PDM president made the announcement moments after the 4pm deadline set by the top court ended on Thursday.
Earlier in the day, the Supreme Court directed the embattled ruling and the opposition political parties to immediately thrash out a consensus on the date of elections and update the bench hearing by 4pm.
Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari said that although his party is trying to build consensus on elections among the country’s political leadership, any dialogue would be futile if it is carried out “with a gun to your head”.
“We have made attempts in the past to unify the political leadership [on elections] and are willing to do that again, but dialogue cannot take place with a gun to your head as no one will agree,” Bilawal said, referring to the CJP’s directives.
He said that the PPP supports holding elections on the same day and is prepared to talk to anyone to achieve this goal.
Bilawal said the PPP was attempting to persuade JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman or any other party who is unwilling to engage in negotiations. “Our efforts are aimed at saving democracy, which is currently in danger,” he said.
The PPP chairman warned that if the issues remain unresolved, then there is danger to both the federation and democracy.
Bilawal hoped that the CJP would establish consensus within his institution before leaving his post. “Our history has never witnessed such fragmentation within the judiciary. The Supreme Court is currently undergoing a trial before the people.”
He said that if elections are held in one province separately, it will have an impact on the remaining three provinces, adding that political stability will lead to economic stability.
“We opposed One Unit in the past, and we still oppose it today. There is a conspiracy to reintroduce it once again,” he claimed.