Emergency imposed out of compulsion, not forever: Bilawal offers opposition fresh talks

ISLAMABAD (Atemad Desk): Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has said that the emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has been imposed out of compulsion and as a last option, not forever. He said the government should extend a hand to the opposition once again and find a middle path.

Speaking in the National Assembly, he said that under Article 232 of the Constitution, the President can impose an emergency in case of war, external aggression or internal disturbance beyond the control of a provincial government. He said the Pakistan Peoples Party intends to vote in favour of the federal government’s decision.

Bilawal Bhutto said the provincial government and the provincial leadership of the PTI were responsible for the present situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. In his words, they themselves carried out a political suicide attack. He said the government made every possible effort to involve the opposition in a political solution, but the provincial government gave no reason for this step not to be taken.

He said politics should be kept separate from matters of terrorism and national interest. He said that when the political space of one party is narrowed, the space of every party shrinks. In his words, India is backing terrorists in Pakistan and cannot digest its defeat in the Marka-e-Haq. He added that Pakistan also took responsibility for the Iran-US ceasefire.

Bilawal Bhutto invited the opposition to come forward so that terrorism could be fought together. He said this country belongs not only to them but also to the opposition and the PTI.