Key Points
- Bilawal questions PTI’s ability to prevent rigging while boycotting reforms.
- The PPP chairman warns against confrontational and extremist politics.
- He says PTI has surrendered political space in parliament.
- Governor’s rule in KP remains a last-resort constitutional option.
KARACHI: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has warned that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) could lose its role in provincial politics if it continues on its current political path, saying the party no longer has a role in federal politics.
“PTI no longer has a role in federal politics. If it continues like this, it will have no role in provincial politics either.” – Bilawal Bhutto Zardari
“PTI no longer has a role in federal politics. If it continues like this, it will have no role in provincial politics either,” Bilawal said, according to the Urdu statement carried in the accompanying television report.
He urged the PTI to abandon what he described as the politics of extremism and join an electoral reforms committee to help prevent rigging in future elections.
Addrressing an event in Karachi on Friday, Bilawal questioned how the PTI could prevent electoral irregularities in future polls while refusing to participate in the reform process, noting that the party had repeatedly raised allegations of rigging.
He also called on the PTI to participate in judicial commissions rather than remain outside parliamentary and political processes. If the party chose confrontational politics, it had already surrendered its space in parliament, he added.
Bilawal said the politics of sit-ins had disappointed PTI supporters and argued that the party itself was suffering the most from its shift towards extremism. He also said that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi had abandoned dialogue in favour of negative politics, despite political agreements having been reached.
He maintained that political disagreements should be resolved through parliament, negotiations and established constitutional forums rather than confrontation on the streets.
Governor’s rule in KP
Bilawal also criticised the political direction in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, accusing PTI of promoting divisive politics in the province.
On the possibility of imposing governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, he said it was a constitutional and legal option but should be used only as a last resort.
The PPP chairman said his party wanted to pursue positive politics in Karachi, while other political forces were promoting hatred and division.
He stressed that electoral reforms should aim to strengthen confidence in the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and ensure that future elections were accepted as credible by political parties and voters.
Karachi’s political climate
Bilawal also criticised the political situation in Karachi, accusing rival political forces of encouraging hatred and division.
He warned that attempts to involve young people in violence could damage the city’s peace and undermine efforts to maintain political stability.
The PPP chairman said his party wanted to promote constructive politics in the city rather than deepen divisions among its residents.
Karachi has a long history of political and ethnic tensions, including periods of violence involving rival political groups. The city’s stability remains important for its residents, businesses and wider economic activity.
