Modi responsible for tension in region: Bilawal

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Wednesday said the entire onus of tension in the region was on Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who had put the peace at risk for his political gains.

Speaking in the National Assembly, he said Modi was denied visa of a country in the past due to his extremist views and the Muslims of Sub-continent knew him very well. “The 'Butcher of Gujrat' was elected to the highest Indian public office. He is also the 'Butcher of Kashmir' as we watch horror in the occupied Kashmir where young Kashmiris are blinded with pellet guns.”

He said the people of Indian occupied Kashmir (IoK) should be given the right of plebiscite as per the United Nations resolution to choose their destiny.

Regarding the Pulwama attack, Bilawal said it was an organic domestic attack due to Indain atrocities in the IoK by the people living there. Pakistan had faced terrorism in the past and made sincere efforts for deescalating tension and peace in the world, he added.

He paid tribute to the soldiers who had sacrificed their lives for the security of the people of the country. The Pakistan Air force (PAF) was the best air force in the world as one of his brave pilot Hassan Siddiqui shot down an Indian warplane, he added.

He also appreciated the Chief of Army Staff for taking the Parliament into confidence at the crucial time and said it was the beauty of democracy.

He said Zulfikar Ali Bhutto had started the nuclear programme keeping in view threats to the country while Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto initiated the missile programme.  The Indian naked aggression could not be under-estimated as the entire responsbility of tension rested with Narendra Modi, he stressed.

The PPP leader said the decision to return the Indian pilot was taken in haste while the foreign minister should have attended the OIC Foreign Ministers Meeting.

He said the entire opposition stood united with the government in crucial time because "we all want to defeat enemy of peace, ensure secure future of our generation and fulfill Jinnah’s dream for a peaceful and prosperous Pakistan."

Bilawal Bhutto also criticized the economic polices of the government and stressed for a clear direction and structural reforms. “The Sindh government not only met the revenue target but it surpassed the target”, he added.