Bilawal urges opposition to return to parliamentary committees

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Wednesday urged opposition parties to return to parliamentary standing committees, saying their active participation was essential to making Parliament effective and advancing electoral reforms.

Speaking to the media after meeting Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Mahmood Khan Achakzai and Senate opposition leader Allama Raja Nasir Abbas at Parliament House, Bilawal said the PPP had always respected Parliament and wanted it to play an effective role in the country’s democratic process.

“For Parliament to be functional, standing committees must be functional,” he said, urging opposition parties to reconsider their decision to boycott the committees.

Bilawal said the PPP had contacted opposition parties and wanted political forces to engage in dialogue. He said electoral reforms should be pursued through Parliament, adding that parties seeking improvements in the electoral process should return to the committees and work together.

He noted that concerns over the electoral process were being raised by both opposition and government benches, including government allies and ministers.

“We all have a responsibility to play our part in addressing objections related to the electoral process,” he said, adding that the reform process could be taken forward through parliamentary committees.

Welcoming the Supreme Court’s decision regarding PTI founder Imran Khan, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that Imran Khan should receive medical treatment. However, he added that it would have been better if the government had arranged his treatment on its own instead of waiting for the Supreme Court’s decision.

On the creation of new provinces, Bilawal said the PPP’s position was clear and that the party would respect the opinion of the people.

He said the PPP would not support imposing a decision on the people by force.

Regarding South Punjab, he said there was already consensus on the creation of a new province. However, he said the PPP’s position on the creation of new provinces in Sindh remained unchanged.

“Where there is no consensus, new provinces should not be created,” he added.