ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Foreign Minister and Chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, has called upon the country’s political parties to unite under a new Charter of Democracy, aiming to fortify democratic institutions and the parliament.
Addressing the lower house of the National Assembly, Bilawal Bhutto asserted that the current government faces an opposition that has transformed politics into a state of animosity. He highlighted their commitment to enhancing democracy, emphasizing that their governance prioritized actions that didn’t serve any extraneous interests.
Criticizing the former ruling party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto remarked, “This government would never contemplate crossing such critical boundaries. Even in our resistance against dictators, we adhered to those red lines diligently.”
Justifying the arrest of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, Bilawal explained that it was a repercussion of his past actions. He anticipated Imran Khan’s eventual release from custody sooner or later and noted the country’s moving towards polls.
Charter of Democracy to Strengthen Democracy
In light of these dynamics, FM Bilawal passionately appealed, “The time has come for all political forces to unite and forge a consensus on a new charter of democracy, or at the very minimum, to revisit the existing one.”
Bilawal Bhutto further went on to say that, in his capacity as PPP Chairman, he advocated for institutions to operate within their designated domains. He, however, admitted that during their 15 months in office, they failed to curtail the intrusion of various institutions into one another’s affairs.
Acknowledging the disenchantment of the younger generation with traditional political practices, FM Bilawal recognized the shifting aspirations and expectations of the youth.
The Foreign Minister requested his father, former President Asif Zardari, and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz supremo Nawaz Sharif to make decisions that would facilitate a smoother political path for him and Maryam Nawaz. “The way we are heading suggests that our leaders have seemingly endorsed the continuation of the same political landscape that has prevailed for the last 30 years,” Bilawal concluded.
