Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has directly challenged Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi to bring his criticism of Pakistan’s political and governance system into parliament. Speaking to the media in London, Bilawal said the country’s future cannot be decided by a small group of businessmen at private forums.
Bilawal acknowledged that Naqvi has every right to share his views. However, he insisted that if the minister truly believes the system has collapsed, the proper place to discuss the reasons and possible solutions is the National Assembly. “It cannot be the case that the fate of the country is decided by a handful of businessmen,” the PPP chief stated.
He also pointed out that Naqvi rarely attends the National Assembly and suggested the minister should appear there more often instead of speaking only at business events. Bilawal said he is ready to debate the issue with any federal minister or government representative on the floor of parliament.
On the question of creating new provinces, Bilawal repeated the PPP’s long-standing position. He stressed that the views of the people must be reflected through their elected representatives and provincial assemblies. He warned that new provinces alone cannot solve deep problems such as political instability, poverty, unemployment and high inflation.
Bilawal rejected reports that the PPP was preparing to end cooperation with the federal government. He confirmed that talks with PML-N representatives are continuing and that the party remains fully engaged with the government at present.
He also criticised PTI’s decision to boycott parliamentary bodies, committees and elections, calling it harmful for both the opposition and parliament as an institution. Bilawal once again expressed reservations about the recent Azad Jammu and Kashmir elections and said discussions with the PML-N are underway to address the PPP’s concerns.
When asked about speculation surrounding his recent visit to Austria, including rumours about his personal life, Bilawal dismissed the talk as amusing. He simply described the trip as “very good.”
The PPP chairman also welcomed the visit of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi to Sindh and congratulated Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif on her daughter’s graduation while both leaders were in London.
