ISLAMABAD: Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, the Chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), has demanded a level-playing field for all political leaders. He emphasizes that political leaders are currently deprived of equal opportunities to contest the upcoming general elections.
He made this statement while responding to a question about the level-playing field available to his party.
The two political heavyweights — PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif and PTI chief Imran Khan — are currently ineligible to contest the upcoming general elections due to convictions in separate corruption cases.
During his visit to slain journalist Jan Muhammad Mahar’s house in Sukkur on Tuesday, the former foreign minister voiced his objection.
He asserted, “There is not a level-playing field for everyone.”
Nawaz, who has been in self-imposed exile in London since November 2019 due to health reasons, earned a lifetime disqualification from the Supreme Court in 2017 for failing to declare a receivable salary. Upon his return to Pakistan in October this year, he might lead his party’s election campaign.
Meanwhile, Khan has remained imprisoned in Attock jail since his conviction on August 5 in the Toshakhana case, where he inadequately disclosed gifts received during his time in office.
The Islamabad High Court overturned a lower court’s decision to imprison him for three years with an Rs100,000 fine, which had prevented him from participating in the upcoming elections.
He remains behind bars due to his judicial remand in the cipher case until September 13.
Bilawal also discussed the murder of Jan Muhammad Mahar, unidentified armed motorcyclists fatally shot in Sukkur on August 17. He mentioned the estalishment of a a joint investigation team to investigate the case.
He expressed his condolences to Mahar’s family and pledged the PPP’s support.
Bilawal Bhutto’s Concerns: Terrorism, Security, and Economic Challenges
Bilawal Bhutto also took a swipe at former prime minister Imran Khan, who was ousted through a no-confidence motion in April 2022.
He accused Khan’s tenure of permitting terrorists from Afghanistan to enter Pakistan.
Bilawal questioned whether Khan and former spy chief Lt Gen (retd) Faiz Hameed were aware that these militants would once again target Pakistan’s Army.
Bilawal emphasized that the PPP has consistently advocated for a strong stance against terrorism and has united the nation against these terrorists.
He noted that terror incidents are on the rise in the country once more.
Furthermore, Bilawal pointed out that American weapons left behind by Western forces in Afghanistan had fallen into the hands of terrorists.
He stated that these American weapons had not only reached Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) but also made their way into Pakistan’s Katcha (riverine) areas.
Regarding the issue of high inflation and economic breakdown, Bilawal attributed these problems as the root causes of unemployment in the country.
