ISLAMABAD/UNITED NATIONS: Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Wednesday called for restraint on everyone’s part and to stay within democratic norms when international reporters at the United Nations (UN) asked for his comments on the conflict in Lahore that left one opposition party worker dead.
Bilawal said that “I think that it is significant for everyone to restrain themselves to within the democratic framework, and it’s also important to be playing one’s role within the democratic system, within parliament,” who is co-chairman of Pakistan People’s Party, said as he emerged from the ‘Women in Islam” conference which is being presided by him.
He said that “What you are seeing is what happens when half of the parliament, or when the opposition decides that the constitution does not apply to them, that democratic structures do not apply to them, the National Assembly doesn’t apply to them, and they take to the streets or social media or other forms,”
“While that is legitimate, and that’s their basic right, a more productive way forward for the people of Pakistan would be to work within the institutions of democracy.”
Earlier, while upholding the people’s right to peaceful protest, the United Nations called for the security forces to exercise maximum restraint.
UN deputy spokesman’s stance
“For us, the significant thing is that all peaceful protests must be able to go ahead without hindrance,” United Nations Deputy Spokesman Farhan Aziz Haq said in response to a question about the occasion in Lahore at the regular noon briefing.
The spokesperson said that “It’s clear to us that wherever they (rallies) take place in the globe, citizens have the right to peaceful protest, and security forces around the globe should allow them to go forward,”
Regarding the political worker’s reported death, Haq said it should be investigated thoroughly.
“And, of course, there must be accountability for deaths or injuries. But, of course, in conditions like these, we call on security forces to exercise maximum restraint.”
