LAHORE: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman, Bilawal Bhutto, held a press conference in Lahore’s Shadman area, where he made it clear that neither he nor the establishment has the authority to set the date for the upcoming general election.
Bilawal Bhutto expressed the PPP’s concerns regarding the fairness of the upcoming electoral contest. He stressed that the party’s demand for a level playing field was directed towards the Pakistan Muslim League-N (PMLN), underscoring the necessity for equal conditions to be provided for all participating political parties.
He stated, “The issue of a level playing field is evident to all stakeholders.” Bilawal also suggested that all parties within the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) alliance should have been convened to discuss this crucial matter. He further indicated his intention to raise concerns if the PMLN took any actions that seemed to disrupt the fair electoral environment.
Bilawal mentioned that the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) had assigned PPP co-chairman Asif Zardari the responsibility of addressing objections related to the level playing field, emphasizing the importance of uniform regulations for all political entities. He highlighted the significance of freedom of expression within a democratic framework.
In a subtle critique of rival political parties, Bilawal Bhutto remarked, “One party excels in propaganda and character assassination. The primary concern of the public is inflation, not who is coming from where.” He asserted that people were more focused on addressing economic challenges and were less interested in the political theatrics surrounding certain individuals’ legal statuses.
Additionally, Bilawal Bhutto credited the PPP for providing relief to the impoverished segments of society during a period of global economic inflation. He reiterated the party’s long-standing demand for the return of Nawaz Sharif, emphasizing that the PPP itself was prepared to face legal proceedings, and therefore, Nawaz Sharif should do the same.
In response to Canada’s recent revelations regarding the assassination of a Sikh leader, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari referred to India as a “rogue and terrorist state” that was “caught violating the sovereignty of a NATO member state.” During his media address in Lahore, he called on the international community to take note of New Delhi’s alleged involvement in “terrorist acts.” He emphasized the gravity of the accusation and urged the global community to stop ignoring India’s actions.
