Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has suggested that the emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa could be brought to an end if opposition parties back the federal government’s counterterrorism effort. He made the remarks while addressing a ceremony in Karachi marking the 19th anniversary of the Karsaz tragedy on October 18.
Bilawal claimed that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi had sworn an oath that he would not take on terrorists. He said that if Afridi was unwilling to confront militancy, the PPP would step in and carry the struggle itself.
Bilawal’s claims about Afridi’s stance on terrorism
Bilawal said the PPP had always faced terrorism bravely and that people from every walk of life had given their lives in the campaign. He also paid tribute to the armed forces for their sacrifices in protecting the country. According to him, Afridi was not prepared to join the fight, which was why the PPP had supported a government decision. He added that the campaign would continue until the country was free of terrorists.
Call for national unity amid economic worries
The PPP chairman stressed that defeating terrorism required national unity, warning that the country could not succeed unless all sides stood together. He also described Pakistan as facing a historic economic crisis and voiced concern that conditions could worsen rather than improve.
Electoral reforms, Governor’s Rule and new provinces
Bilawal said democratic institutions needed improvement and reminded listeners that he had proposed a parliamentary committee on electoral reforms. He said the opposition wanted Governor’s Rule to end, but that this would require cooperation with the federal government in combating terrorism. He urged opposition parties to engage in dialogue with the government and invited them to join the proposed committee.
On the creation of new provinces or administrative units, Bilawal said Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi was aware of the positions of the PPP and President Asif Ali Zardari on the matter. He argued that new provinces could be formed through constitutional and legal procedures, and asked why they were not being established in areas where consensus already existed.
