There should be a level-playing field for all political leaders: Bilawal Bhutto

SUKKUR, Sep 12 (SABAH): Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has demanded that there should be a level-playing field for all political leaders, maintaining that the political leaders are deprived of equal opportunities to contest the upcoming general elections.

Bilawal Bhutto stated this while responding to a question regarding the level-playing field available to his party as the two political bigwigs — PML-N Supremo Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and PTI Chairman Imran Khan — are currently ineligible to contest upcoming general elections owing to convictions in separate corruption cases.

“There is not a level-playing field for everyone and that is my objection,” said the former foreign minister during his visit to slain journalist Jan Muhammad Mahar’s house in Sukkur on Tuesday.

Speaking about Mahar’s murder — who was shot dead by unidentified armed motorcyclists in Sukkur on August 17 — Bilawal Bhutto said that a joint investigation team has been formed to probe the case.

“I have come here to offer my condolences to Jan Muhammad Mahar’s family and we stand by them,” said the PPP chairman.

Bilawal also took a jibe at former prime minister Imran Khan — who was overthrown through a no-confidence motion in April 2022 — saying that the terrorists from Afghanistan were allowed to enter Pakistan during Khan’s tenure.

He said that a plan was made that the terrorists would be allowed to settle in Pakistan once again, questioning whether Khan and former spy chief Lt Gen (retd) Faiz Hameed knew that these militants would attack Pakistan’s Army once again.

“PPP has always had the same stance against terrorism should be fought. Our party has united the entire nation against these terrorists,” he said, adding that terror incidents are on the rise in the country yet again.

Bilawal also said that the American weapons left by the Western forces in Afghanistan fell into the hands of the terrorists. “American weapons have not only reached Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) but also reached our Katcha [riverine] areas,” he said.

Speaking about the high inflation and economic breakdown, Bilawal Bhutto said that these are the reasons behind the unemployment in the country.

Bilawal Bhutto requested the Election Commission (ECP) to announce a date for polls in the country. The PPP leader said [constitutionally] it was the duty of the ECP to announce the date [for holding elections].

“I want the old ways of running the country be abandoned. Masses have to face the consequences of [bad] decisions taken in Islamabad.” Although the PPP was a part of the former ruling alliance, the PDM, Bilawal did not speak of its failure when he said inflation, unemployment and poverty was the biggest problem. “The economy is in bad shape. The solution to all the problems is people’s rule,” he added.

Bilawal admitted terrorism was on the rise again as the National Action Plan had not been fully implemented. “It was the PPP alone which called for fighting against terrorism,” he maintained.

About Karachi, Bilawal lamented that the consumers didn’t have electricity for eight hours, but they received bills for 24 hours supply.