Daily Times

KARACHI: The government will be compelled to fulfill four demands of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) as soon as the PPP Co-chairman Asif Zardari lands in Pakistan on December 23, said PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Sunday.

Zardari went out of the country in June 2015, days after a surprising outburst, in which he said politicians were better suited to running the affairs of the country.

“You are here for only three years,” he said in an apparent jab at the then army chief.

The PPP is focusing to achieve democratic accountability in the country as Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was exposed in the world’s biggest scandal of Panama Papers, Bilawal told a news briefing.

The Karachi leadership has been tasked to make all arrangements for Zardari’s homecoming. The former president’s doctors had permitted him to travel.

“We are hopeful that Zardari’s return will help implement our four demands soon,” he said, adding, “We need the great strategic skill of Zardari to overwhelm the Sharif government so that despite their two thirds majority, they will have to implement my four demands.”

Bilawal today was optimistic his party would build up a “strong opposition” against Nawaz.

The arrest of Dr Asim Hussain was political rivalry against the PPP, he said, adding, “We are real opposition in the country and capable to take government into task. Due to this the Nawaz government is pressing the party and its leadership at various levels, but we are not afraid of jails and cases, we will continue our protest once started.”

To a question, Bilawal said, “I will show everyone how we can make arrangements and let’s people witness the arrival of PPP co-chairman on Friday (December 23) in the country.”

The PPP wants the enactment of the Panama Papers Inquiries Bill, 2016, implementation on the all parties conference’s recommendations about the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, a parliamentary committee for oversight of the National Action Plan and appointment of a full-time foreign minister, he again recalled his demands.

He categorically rejected Chaudhry Nisar’s allegations that slain PPP chairwoman Benazir Bhutto’s name was also in the Panamagate. He said, “There is a website on Panama Papers, anyone can browse it to check the names in the scandal.”

“Politics is all about timing…I wanted Bilawal to come at the forefront for his political grooming,” Zardari had told local channel last month. “He’s doing very well now, and you will see me in Pakistan very soon.”

Earlier during the day, Bilawal urged the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz to not make the mistake of taking him lightly. To those who target him for being too young, Bilawal cheekily admitted he was a ‘kid’. “The kid of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto. “Be scared of me.”