Daily Times

Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Wednesday made it clear that his party will not become part of any undemocratic move to oust the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government.

“We want to remove the government through a constitutional process … PPP will not become part of any undemocratic conspiracy,” he said while talking to the PPP Central Punjab leadership at a meeting held here at the Bilawal House. He announced a campaign of rallies and protests against inflation. He said masses are continuously facing problems due to inflation and unemployment as IMF’s deal did not take into account the common man’s problems. He also said that government’s tax targets are breaking the back of masses. “PPP also went to IMF but we did not negotiate such a cruel deal,” he said, and urged the government to renegotiate a better deal with the international lender.

Later, addressing a press conference, Bilalwal said he will continue to fight economic injustices in the country. He also expressed hope that Shehbaz Sharif will return soon and play his part as opposition leader. He maintained that elected, not selected, representatives can resolve issues of the people. “PPP will continue to raise voice against economic slaughter of poor, labourers, farmers and businessmen,” he said.

The PPP chief strongly condemned the murder of journalist Aziz Memon and said that PPP wants a police which is not involved in politics. At the same time, the PPP chief advised the journalists to “work with your allies” and cautioned against “unwillingly becoming part of a conspiracy that is against democratic forces”.

A reporter pointed out that the murdered journalist had posted a video, wherein he had alleged that he was receiving threats for his coverage of a news story. In response, Bilawal said the video had been posted last year when the PPP held its ‘train march’, and added, “Our record is before you. Whenever you (journalists) are named in fake terrorism cases, whenever there are deadly attacks on your community, PPP always stands by you. Even if we suffer losses because of it, we tolerate that because we believe that constructive criticism leads to improvement.” Bilawal said that a day before Memon’s death, a PPP MPA was brutally murdered in the same area. “We want justice to prevail. We want a police system that is not involved in politics,” he insisted. Bilawal said if the “journalist’s family wants a judicial commission to be formed, we will constitute one. If the family wants a specific police officer, who they believe is credible, to investigate, we will [assign that officer to the case]. But I want to make a request before you all: this story does not end with Aziz Memon. This story is not limited to one Aziz Memon. You should ask who filed terrorism cases against Sindh’s journalists. You should also ask if this is only happening in Sindh. In accordance with a conspiracy, tactics like this are being used against our journalists who do real reporting, whether in Pakistan or abroad.”