Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has urged Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to abandon what he described as extremist politics, warning that continued confrontation with political opponents was damaging the party and the country.
He called on the opposition party to restore contact with rival political forces and return to Parliament to regain its political standing.
Bilawal made the remarks while inaugurating the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) Sports Complex in Karachi, where he congratulated the city’s young people on the opening of the facility. He said the PPP wanted to see young people holding pens rather than weapons, stressing the importance of providing them with opportunities in education, sports and development.
He maintained that some political forces were pushing Karachi’s youth towards criminal activities, while certain parties were promoting hatred and division.
The PPP chairman also referred to the inauguration of the third section of Thar Coal Block II in Tharparkar, highlighting the importance of development initiatives alongside facilities that encourage young people to participate in constructive activities.
PTI ‘under pressure’
Criticising PTI’s approach to politics, Bilawal said the party had disputes with the federal government, provincial administrations and other political groups, with the resulting confrontation carrying consequences for the country.
He argued that PTI would struggle to recover its lost political position unless it abandoned political extremism and engaged with other parties through dialogue. According to Bilawal, the party’s confrontational approach had also left its workers frustrated and weakened its role in federal politics.
He warned that if the situation continued, PTI founder Imran Khan could surpass President Asif Ali Zardari’s 14-year period in prison, drawing a comparison between their respective periods of detention.
Bilawal also addressed Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, advising him to adopt a more constructive political approach if he was genuinely committed to Imran Khan. He said the provincial chief minister should move away from confrontation and focus on protecting his government through political engagement.
Governor’s rule
Discussing the political situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Bilawal described governor’s rule as a constitutional and legal option but stressed that it should be considered only as a last resort.
He said the PPP did not want emergency measures or governor’s rule to become necessary, maintaining that such steps were intended for extraordinary circumstances rather than routine political disputes. However, he warned that the provincial government’s conduct could push the situation in that direction.
Bilawal claimed that the federal government had been prepared to impose an emergency a few days earlier and that an agreement had been reached between the government and opposition parties. He nevertheless reiterated that emergency measures and governor’s rule should remain options of last resort.
Questioning Sohail Afridi over the breakdown of negotiations, Bilawal welcomed Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s role in the talks. He said political disputes should be resolved through dialogue and democratic processes rather than
