Bilawal Bhutto Meets Opposition Leaders, Urges PTI to Return to Parliamentary Committees
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has urged Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to return to parliamentary standing committees and play an active role in the legislative process.
The PPP delegation held a meeting with opposition leaders at the National Assembly’s Opposition Chamber, where parliamentary affairs and the country’s political situation were discussed.
According to a statement issued by the Opposition Chamber, Bilawal Bhutto met with Mahmood Khan Achakzai and Allama Raja Nasir Abbas, while Salman Akram Raja, Asad Qaiser, Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar, Aamir Dogar and Adil Bazai were also present.
During the meeting, Bilawal requested opposition leaders to participate in parliamentary committees and play an active role in their proceedings. PTI leaders responded that a decision regarding participation in parliamentary committees would be taken after consultation with PTI founder Imran Khan.
The PPP and opposition leaders also agreed to increase coordination on legislation in Parliament. The PPP stressed the need for electoral reforms to ensure transparency in future elections.
The PPP also welcomed the decision to transfer Imran Khan to a hospital for medical treatment, describing it as a positive development and a democratic tradition.
Speaking to the media after the meeting, Asad Qaiser said there were no backdoor contacts on their part and that he had no information about any meeting with the prime minister. He added that any decision regarding postponement of the long march would be taken after consultation.
Bilawal calls for active parliamentary role
Speaking to reporters, Bilawal Bhutto said the PPP respected parliamentary offices and wanted Parliament and its committees to become fully functional.
He said all political parties, whether in the opposition or part of the ruling coalition, currently had grievances regarding the electoral process.
Bilawal urged all opposition parties to at least play their role in Parliament on the issue of electoral reforms, stressing that political parties should not distance themselves from the parliamentary process.
He said the PPP was a democratic political party and that the recent meeting with opposition leaders was a good beginning.
Bilawal added that Parliament faced several challenges, including the risk of failing to operate according to the dignity and responsibilities of the institution.
He said opposition parties should end their disengagement from parliamentary proceedings and stressed that he was not focused on an in-house change, but wanted Parliament to perform its constitutional and democratic role effectively.
