Chairman, PPP Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has alleged that the candidates of opposition are being harassed in the newly merged districts in the name of Section 144 while the candidates of ruling PTI are running election campaign along with administration. Speaking in a 'Meet the Press' Programme here at Peshawar Press Club (PPC), he said that Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) should not have allowed the deployment of military personnel inside polling stations. He said that the deployment will defame Pakistan Army.
Critical of the decision, he said that military dictators Zia-ul-Haq and Pervez Musharraf did not dare to deploy army in polling stations, then how this decision is taken today to benefit the PTI government. He was hopeful that the ECP would withdraw the decision. Otherwise, he said the party would move courts against it. He said that the opposition parties were united on the removal of Chairman Senate Sadiq Sanjrani and enjoying complete consensus over the matter.
The PPP chairman said that the opposition parties would bring their consensual candidate for the post of chairman senate. It was PPP's proposal that was honoured by the opposition parities during the course of APC, he said and added that opposition parties were on the same page on this matter. He also snubbed the rumours being circulated by the government circles about the differences in the ranks of the opposition parties over removal of chairman senate. Efforts were underway to nominate the consensus candidate for the slot of chairman senate and today we also had a 'Rahbar Committee Meeting' called for the same purpose.
The PPP Chairman maintained that panacea to all problems lies in the promotion and strengthening democracy and democratic norms in the country for which the PPP rendered matchless sacrifices since its inception in 1969 and never bowed to any pressure put on the party by the dictators from time to time. Bilawal Bhutto said that PPP despite lacking majority restored the Constitution of 1973 and gave National Finance Commission (NFC) Award to strengthened federation and give maximum relief to the people. But, today, he said 18th Constitutional Amendment is under fire from all fronts and especially the 'selected' Prime Minister is giving statements for its annulment.
He vowed that PPP will defend both the Constitution of 1973 and 18th Constitutional Amendment and will face all kind of pressure, but will not compromise on the political rights, military courts. In this connection, he said currently the party is running a mass mobilisation campaign and would visit the all nook and corners of the country to expose the puppet government and prepare a force of youth against it.
Bilawal recalled that his party's efforts for promotion and continuation of democratic process, struggle for achieving rights of people and elimination of poverty would continue unabated. Bilawal Bhutto who dashed to Peshawar on a week-long visit to organise the party's structure at district and divisional level in the province contended that the political issues which were thoroughly debated upon always end up in an acceptable shape and it's part and parcel of democracy to take every decision with consultation.
The PPP chairman also emphasised on announcement of new NFC Award for better and judicious utilisation of resources among the federating units adding that the NFC Award also increase shares of the provinces from the federal divisible pool. The PPP chairman reiterated his party's position to fight against the IMF dictated federal budget in the days to come. He said that PPP would continue its struggle for securing human rights of the people at every fora.