Bilawal says no talks with opposition 'at gunpoint'

Bilawal Bhutto on Thursday said that our effort is to save democracy and the federation.

ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) - Foreign Minister and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari Thursday said dialogue among political parties was essential to achieve political and economic stability, but the ruling coalition will not welcome any talks with the opposition at gunpoint. 

Addressing a presser, Bilawal said Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) was making endeavors to convince the allied parties to take forward this process. He said, “Our effort is to save democracy and the federation.”

The foreign minister made it clear that talks with the PTI could not be held under the court’s watch

He said it will be difficult for PPP to convince the allied parties to hold dialogue with the opponents until and unless the court order of holding elections in Punjab on May 14 was taken back.

He said holding elections in one province at this point of time will impact the results of elections in the other three provinces. ” We support the idea of holding the elections on one day across the country.”

Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said the coalition parties were standing firm in backing the decisions taken on the platform of the Parliament.

Responding to a question, Bilawal said he will represent Pakistan at the foreign ministers meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) to be held in India next month. He said, “We are committed to the SCO charter and this visit should not be seen as a bilateral one but in the context of the SCO.”

-- Fazl sees negotiating with Imran an insult to parliament --

Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman slammed Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan, saying negotiating with the latter was an insult to parliament.

Addressing a press conference, Mr Fazl said, "The court should clarify its position on whether it is Panchayat or court for real. The court is asking the PDM to hold talks with Imran Khan. The entire process has been declared non-political. For how long will we be blackmailed by such matters?

"From which person should we negotiate? If Imran Khan really wanted the elections, why did he not announce the date for the polls when he was in power", he lamented.

Taking a swipe at Mr Khan, Mr Fazl said, "This person was of the view that if he did not get the two-thirds majority, he would not accept the results of the elections. Talking to him is like feeling the contempt of the whole political system and the entire parliament. We do not see an inept person like him in terms of holding negotiations. We want Imran Khan out of the country’s circle".

Read also: Imran can't conceal his inefficiency, corruption by 'covering face with canister': Marriyum

Mr Fazl rued," For the sake of providing protection to one person, the entire nation has been insulted."

"Undoubtedly, the nation is dragged into a quagmire. With the depreciation of the rupee, even the cost to perform Haj has increased," he maintained.

Speaking about the death of former federal minister Mufti Abdul Shakoor, Mr Fazl said, "The martyrdom of Mufti Abdul Shakoor is an accident."