Daily Times

LAHORE: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto on Wednesday said that his party supports reforms in the judicial system but won’t back Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) in its bid to dictate its terms to the judiciary.

“There are issues we want to address about judicial reforms, but Nawaz Sharif’s intentions are not right. He doesn’t want judicial reforms … he instead wants a judiciary subservient to the PML-N,” Bilawal told media outside the residence of late Asma Jehangir.

The PPP chairman said the constitution and the parliament were two supreme institutions of the country. He said any conflict between the institutions was not good for democracy. He said any reforms in the judicial system should be introduced with consensus, involving judiciary, lawyers, civil society and the political parties. “You need to sit with lawyers, civil society and others to form laws and amendments,” he said.

Criticising the PML-N chief’s tirade against the judiciary, Bilawal said it was a joke with the nation that the longest serving prime minister of the country [Nawaz Sharif], who still enjoyed government in the Centre, behaved as if he was in the opposition. “It is unfathomable why Nawaz Sharif despite enjoying power in the Centre, Punjab and Azad Kashmir acts as if he is in the opposition,” he wondered.

Suggesting the disqualified premier to stop crying over his ouster in the Panama Papers case, Bilawal urged Nawaz Sharif to work for the development of the society and the country as his party was still in power.

Referring to the accountability process and cases against Asif Ali Zardari and Benazir Bhutto in the past, Bilawal said it was PML-N which got PPP leaders punished as Shehbaz Sharif and Saifur Rehman would force the judges to pass verdict against them. He said apparently once again PML-N wanted to dictate judgements to the judiciary. “But, we will not let it happen again. They don’t understand Pakistan has changed now. We will not tolerate such attacks on our judiciary,” Bilawal said, adding that when the judiciary dispensed justice, it was the duty of the army to ensure its protection.

The Bhutto scion said that his party aimed to build a new Lahore – one that would be progressive and peaceful as well. He said that PPP wanted to create a new Pakistan where everyone could live with equal rights and dignity. “We want to build a Pakistan where women feel safe and protected,” he said.

Bilawal also criticised PTI chief Imran Khan for establishing ties with Maulana Sami-ul-Haq. “Imran Khan is conducting political matters with the owner of Haqqani madrassah,” he said.

Published in Daily Times, February 22^nd 2018.