KARACHI: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has said that an emergency could not have been imposed without the signature of President Asif Ali Zardari, stressing that the PPP remains committed to constitutional and legal procedures. Addressing a ceremony marking the 19th anniversary of the October 18 Karsaz tragedy, Bilawal paid tribute to the victims and described the attack as one of the darkest days in Pakistan’s history. He said terrorists had made a “cowardly attempt” to target former prime minister Benazir Bhutto upon her return to Pakistan, while PPP workers who had gathered to welcome her sacrificed their lives to protect their leader. “The blood of the Karsaz martyrs is testimony that terrorism, extremism and violence cannot weaken our commitment to democracy,” he said, adding that the PPP would continue its struggle to strengthen democratic institutions, safeguard the Constitution and protect the rights of the people. Bilawal said PPP workers considered the fight against terrorism their responsibility. Recalling Benazir Bhutto’s stance against militancy, he said she had warned in her final public address that certain forces did not want to see the writ of the state established in Swat. He said that after forming the government in 2008, the PPP launched operations against militants in Swat and other parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, fulfilling Benazir Bhutto’s commitment to confronting terrorism. Bilawal alleged that terrorists who had been imprisoned in Pakistan were later released and that the country was now paying the price for those decisions. He warned that Pakistan was once again facing serious security challenges, with terrorism being confronted “from Khyber to Khuzdar”. Criticizing Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, Bilawal accused him of being unwilling to defend his province while remaining ready to politically confront the PPP. He also criticized the handling of the Karsaz attack investigation, saying crucial evidence from the scene had been washed away. He said Pakistan had made significant progress against terrorism but acknowledged that Benazir Bhutto’s vision of a peaceful and secure country had yet to be fully realized. Highlighting the PPP’s history of political reconciliation, Bilawal said the Movement for the Restoration of Democracy (MRD) brought together parties that had previously opposed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. He added that Benazir Bhutto also pursued political reconciliation in the broader interest of democracy. Bilawal said Benazir Bhutto had to make political compromises to form the government in 1988, arguing that she could have secured a two-thirds majority had the elections been completely transparent. He cited the 18th Constitutional Amendment as an example of what could be achieved through dialogue, consensus and political reconciliation. He said compromise in politics meant finding a mutually acceptable way forward through consultation rather than abandoning fundamental principles. Bilawal stressed that political strategies should focus on delivering relief to the public while protecting a party’s manifesto and core principles. Referring to the debate over an emergency, he said Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi was aware of the policies of both the PPP and President Zardari. “Without President Zardari’s signature, this could not have been done,” Bilawal said. He reiterated that the PPP’s position was clear that new provinces could only be created through constitutional and legal means. He questioned why provinces were not being created in areas where political consensus already existed if the debate was more than political rhetoric. Bilawal also responded to Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, saying he had every right as an opposition leader to criticize the government. However, he said that while Fazlur Rehman could politically criticize the PPP, he should have spoken more openly against terrorists, particularly as members of his own party had also been killed in militant attacks Bilawal said terrorism should not be politicized at a time when Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan were facing militant violence, stressing the need for a united political response to the security challenge.
