- Underscores ‘unity’ as no single party could address situation alone
- Claims instead of furthering democracy, early polls to further Imran’s agenda
ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Sunday said that he did not see the need for holding early elections in the country as was being demanded by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman and former prime minister Imran Khan.
The foreign minister, in an interview with Al-Jazeera, said that the current government inherited from its predecessor “a divided country and a collapsed economy.”
As far as the previous government is concerned, we inherited a lot from them. We inherited a divided country, an economy on the brink of default, a foreign policy that left us isolated, & problems internally and externally – FM @BBhuttoZardari
— PPP (@MediaCellPPP) December 4, 2022
However, he said the incumbent government was looking for solutions to internal problems and consensus at the international level. He said in order to address the challenges inherited from the previous government, it was essential that the whole country get united as no single political party or individual could address the situation alone.
He said in order to address the challenged inherited form the previous government, it was essential that the whole country get united as no single political party or individual could address the situation alone.
When I was in opposition and demanded early elections, Mr Khan didn’t agree. Before the vote-of-no-confidence, I led a campaign across the country where I demanded Mr Imran to dissolve his assembly and call for early elections – FM @BBhuttoZardari
— PPP (@MediaCellPPP) December 4, 2022
Rubbishing the accusations of a foreign conspiracy behind the removal of Imran Khan, the foreign minister said the political leaders were supposed to speak the truth to their people instead of coming up with such conspiracy theories.
He told the interviewer that it was for the first time that a prime minister was removed constitutionally through a vote of confidence, not through a coup or court order.
Asked about the early elections, he said instead of furthering democracy, the early elections would instead further Imran Khan’s agenda.
He said it was important for the country to complete its five years term unless there was any urgency which currently was not there.
To a question, Foreign Minister Bilawal said that Kashmir was an unfinished agenda and since Narendra Modi’s election, the space for Muslims in India as well as Kashmir was shrinking.
He said the people of Pakistan and Indian want to live in peace. In order to achieve that, it was essential to respect international laws and conventions to address the issue of terrorism and extremism.
Coming to Afghanistan, the foreign minister said Pakistan was engaging with the war-torn country in the interest of its own as well as the neighborhood.
TTP has been involved in heinous terrorist attacks in the past, and terrorist attacks are still ongoing. We expect to work with Afghanistan & the interim authorities there to address the challenges posed by the terrorist organisation – FM @BBhuttoZardari
pic.twitter.com/Z6KbdeERTd— PPP (@MediaCellPPP) December 4, 2022
However, he said the TTP had been involved in terror attacks in the past which were still going on. He said Pakistan would work with the Afghan government to address the challenge posed by the terrorist outfits.
