Daily Times

LAHORE: Pakistan People’s Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto on Friday said that Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) have entered into an electoral alliance with the proscribed organisations only against his party.

Addressing a press conference here, the PPP chairman said that the nexus between banned organisations and the political parties is evident in Malir district of Karachi. “We have to set redlines against extremism in the politics,” he said. “We have to think what message we are giving to the world.”

Bilawal said that the warm welcome he received from Karachi to Peshawar showed that there is still room for politics of issues in our democracy. “There is hope for positive politics in the country,” he said, adding that his party will pursue politics of federation irrespective of the election results.

The PPP chief said that the PML-N believes in selection rather than election, adding that the forthcoming polls should be free, fair and transparent. “The election should not be made controversial by facilitating a few political parties and allies,” he said, adding that even a weak democracy was better than dictatorship.

To a question, Bilawal said that the PPP had reservations on the electoral process but even then it will remain in the field and participate in the upcoming elections. “We are being barred from running our election campaign,” he alleged, adding, “But, we will contest these elections as a challenge.” To another question, Bilawal said he will fulfil the mission of Benazir Bhutto.

Published in Daily Times, July 21^st 2018.