Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari criticized the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMNL-N)-led federal government for taking “unilateral decisions without consulting its political allies”, warning that such actions cause unnecessary problems for the federation. management. Addressing an event in the federal capital, Bilawal Bhutto emphasized the importance of consensus-based policy-making and emphasized that Pakistan’s political system thrives when the government listens to the people and engages with key stakeholders. “Whenever a government makes a decision without consulting its allies or without considering the wishes of the public, it ends up making things harder for itself,” he noted. The PPP leader also recalled the long-standing support of the Human Rights Party and the struggle of the Pakistani working class. He noted that the efforts of three generations of PPP leaders led to the creation of significant rights for the nation’s workers, beginning with the historic contributions of his grandfather Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, who helped secure the constitution, and the continued leadership of his late mother, Benazir Bhutto, who stood firmly against the military dictatorship. Bilawal Bhutto also emphasized that PPP’s legacy of fighting for democracy, workers’ rights and human rights is a continuous effort even during the rule of military dictators like General Zia-ul-Haq and General Pervez Musharraf. He praised the PPP for consistently promoting the agenda of the working class, adding that the party was the first to introduce a comprehensive employment policy in Pakistan and continues to push for fair wages and pensions. In his speech, the PPP chairman also touched upon the broader topic of political legitimacy when he said that no government can function without the support and consent of the people. “Whether you are a prime minister, a president or even a monarch, every system depends on the will of its people,” he said. “If the government moves away from the wishes of the people, it destabilizes the whole system.” Blawal warned that the current political environment in Pakistan is marked by a lack of dialogue and decision-making from the top. “When decisions are made unilaterally, they are harder to implement and the results are often less successful,” he said. “On the other hand, when decisions are made based on consensus and consultation with all stakeholders, including opposition and coalition partners, they are easier to implement and have a better chance of success.” The PPP leader called for a return to the principle of consensus politics and cited the example of his grandfather Zulfikar Ali Bhutto who, despite having a majority in parliament, decided to create a democratic system based on national consensus. “He had a mandate to implement his own policies, yet he chose to build a consensus and secure an agreement that ensured the stability of the system,” Bilawal noted. He expressed concern that the current government, while not having the same level of majority, sometimes acts as if it has a two-thirds majority and dictates policy without consultation. He called on the ruling party to prioritize consultations with elected representatives and opposition parties for the sake of a more effective and stable political environment. Bilawal Bhutto concluded his remarks by reiterating the PPP’s commitment to a politics of unity and issue-based discussions rather than division and hatred. He lamented that Pakistan’s current political climate is more about personalities and less about solving the real problems facing the nation. “We are committed to a politics of issues, not hatred and division,” he said. “Currently, the political discourse is unfortunately diverting from the key issues that affect the people of Pakistan.”
