Daily Times

KARACHI: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Friday said that the Supreme Court’s verdict in the Panama Papers case was not a judicial coup.

Addressing a press conference on Friday, the PPP chairman welcomed the verdict and said that it was the responsibility of all political parties to accept the decision.

He quoted former prime minister Benazir Bhutto’s words to open the press conference, saying: “Nawaz Sharif may succeed in conspiring against me but one day he will cry and remember me and my father Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.”

He added that the verdict would help curb corruption in the country.

He went on to say that the PPP believed in across-the-board accountability. He said that the money laundered out of the country should be brought back.

When asked if Nawaz Sharif was disqualified on weak grounds, he denied replying, saying he was not a lawyer to comment on it. He, however, said that the party after consensus would decide its future course of action and the seat he would occupy if the party comes into power.

Asked if the PPP had qualms about articles 62 and 63 of the constitution, Bilawal said that the PPP had some reservations about the articles, but added that the decision of the apex court should be accepted.

To a question regarding the establishment of the interim government, he said that the PPP was ready to face and accept any situation. “We want assembly to complete its constitutional tenure,” he added.

Replying to a question, he said that he was not familiar with the details of cases against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan.

He concluded by saying that Pakistan and not any political party won after the top court’s verdict.

Earlier, a consultation of the party was called to discuss the political situation in the country and decide the future course of action. The meeting was attended by federal and provincial ministers. It was also decided during the meeting that PPP would nominate a candidate for the leader of the house for which the party would consult other political parties.

Published in Daily Times, July 29^th , 2017.