Bilawal Bhutto says he foresees a ‘dangerous stalemate’ if ‘someone’ doesn’t change their position over govt formation

ISLAMABAD, Feb 20 (SABAH): With the talks between the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) dragging on, Pakistan People’s Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Tuesday warned that he foresees a “dangerous stalemate” if “someone” doesn’t change their position over government formation. Bilawal Bhutto said that Asif Ali Zardari will not do anything which could annoy me.

“Progress [in talks] can only be made if ‘someone’ is willing to change their position […] We stand by our position and will not change it,” Bilawal said without naming PML-N.

He made these comments during a media talk outside the Supreme Court of Pakistan after attending the hearing of a presidential reference against Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s death sentence.

Bilawal Bhutto said that this deadlock over talks would neither be beneficial for the democracy nor the economy. When asked if he was in touch with the establishment, Bilawal Bhutto said: “Where is the evidence that I am involved with the establishment? Give evidence before accusing me.”

He said that the people did not give a majority to just one party. “The people have given such a decision on which all the stakeholders will have to come to a consensus.” “Political stakeholders have to sit together and decide. If I have to vote for PML-N, I will do so on my terms,” added Bilawal.

Bilawal Bhutto said he would not change his stance regarding cooperation [with the PML-N] for the formation of government in centre. “If someone else wants to change their stance, there can be progress. If they are not ready to change it, I foresee a stalemate,” former foreign minister Bilawal said, adding that it would not benefit democracy or the parliamentary system. “If I want to give the PML-N a vote, I will have to give it on my terms and not theirs,” he continued.

“The delay [in forming the government] is because of non-serious,” he said, adding that this harmed Pakistan’s democracy. “The faster this is resolved, it will be better for stability and the incoming government.”

Bilawal Bhutto said that Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto reference is the historic case and it is the test of the judiciary, adding that he is hopeful that the judiciary will provide justice to the creator of the Constitution of Pakistan.