KARACHI, Oct 18: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has said that imposing an emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa would not be possible without President Asif Ali Zardari’s signature, maintaining that his party supports constitutional and legal procedures in matters involving provincial governance.
Addressing a ceremony marking the 19th anniversary of the Karsaz tragedy on Sunday, Bilawal also criticised Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi over his handling of security challenges and urged political leaders to adopt a united stance against terrorism.
Referring to discussions surrounding an emergency in KP, Bilawal said Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi was aware of the PPP’s position and that of President Zardari.
He maintained that the PPP had always supported constitutional and lawful procedures for imposing an emergency.
Speaking about proposals for creating new provinces, Bilawal said his party believed such decisions should be made through constitutional and legal means.
He questioned why new provinces were not being established in areas where political consensus existed, referring to Gilgit as an example. He suggested that the seriousness of such proposals should be judged by whether they were pursued where agreement was already possible.
Bilawal criticises KP chief minister over terrorism
The PPP chairman strongly criticised Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, accusing him of failing to demonstrate sufficient resolve in confronting terrorism.
He said the KP chief minister appeared more willing to engage in political confrontation with the PPP than to defend his province against militant threats.
Bilawal expressed concern over renewed terrorist activity, saying Pakistan was again facing threats similar to those experienced in earlier years.
He recalled that the PPP government had launched military operations in Swat after coming to power in 2008 to confront militancy and restore the state’s authority.
He also criticised past decisions to release imprisoned militants, arguing that Pakistan continued to suffer the consequences of those policies.
Bilawal said the country was confronting terrorism from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to Balochistan and stressed that political differences should not weaken the national response to security threats.
Bilawal urges Fazlur Rehman to speak against terrorism
Referring to Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Bilawal acknowledged his right as an opposition leader to criticise the government.
However, he said the JUI-F leader should also speak openly against terrorist organisations, particularly when members of his own party had lost their lives in militant attacks.
Bilawal maintained that terrorism should not become a subject of political point-scoring and called for a clear and consistent position against violence.
PPP pays tribute to Karsaz tragedy victims
Earlier, Bilawal paid tribute to those killed in the October 18, 2007, Karsaz attack, which targeted the procession welcoming former prime minister Benazir Bhutto on her return to Pakistan.
He described October 18 as a dark day in Pakistan’s history and said PPP workers had sacrificed their lives while protecting their leader.
Bilawal said the victims’ sacrifices demonstrated that terrorism and extremism could not defeat the struggle for democracy.
He recalled Benazir Bhutto’s warnings about militant threats in Swat and said the PPP had subsequently pursued operations against terrorism.
He also expressed concern over the handling of evidence following the Karsaz attack, saying crucial evidence had been washed away.
The PPP chairman reaffirmed his party’s commitment to protecting democratic institutions, upholding the Constitution and safeguarding citizens’ rights.
Political compromise essential for democracy, says Bilawal
Discussing Pakistan’s political history, Bilawal highlighted Benazir Bhutto’s commitment to reconciliation and consensus-building.
He recalled that the Movement for the Restoration of Democracy had brought together parties with differing political backgrounds, including groups that had previously opposed former prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.
He said Benazir Bhutto had also made political compromises while forming a government in 1988, placing democratic stability and public interests above personal considerations.
Bilawal cited the passage of the 18th Constitutional Amendment as an example of political consensus achieved through negotiations among different stakeholders.
He stressed that compromise in democratic politics meant finding mutually acceptable solutions rather than abandoning fundamental principles.
The PPP chairman said political parties must balance their commitment to their manifestos with the need to address public concerns through dialogue and practical governance.
He maintained that Pakistan’s current challenges required political maturity, constitutional adherence and a collective commitment to combating terrorism.