ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has said that former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan was imposed on the country and so much damage has been done due to his decisions that the country is at the verge of default.
Addressing a press conference in Islamabad on Saturday, the foreign minister while accusing the PTI chairman of using undemocratic forces for his politics said that the country’s foreign policy was damaged during the past four years.
He said that the PPP has always struggled to strengthen democracy and Imran Khan’s journey from being a cricketer to being selected is in front of everyone. The PPP chairman went on to say that the whole world is facing economic disaster due to the Russia-Ukraine war.
“Imran Khan’s decisions have ruined country’s relations from the Middle East, Europe to the US,” the FM said adding that the PTI chairman’s so-called long march has no democratic purpose.
“The purpose of announcing the Long March on the same week in Rawalpndi is to make the appointment of army chief controversial,” he added.
“I am sending a message to Imran Khan and all these forces to stop playing this game,” the PPP chairman said and added Pakistan and the people cannot afford this game. “If real freedom and democracy is the goal, then why did you choose to announce the Long March on the same week,” Bilawal Bhutto questioned, adding that PTI chairman’s aim is to once again play games with the fate of the country.
“Holding protest and doing politics is your [Imran Khan] right, but let this appointment be completed in a constitutional and legal manner.”
Bilawal Bhutto said that if you [Imran Khan] will stage a protest in Rawalpindi this week, then everyone knows what your purpose is, adding that we have failed such conspiracies in the past and will again fail today. “We are requesting you to avoid such politics.” Bilawal appealed PTI Chief to postpone his long march till the appointment of the army chief. He said appointment of the Army Chief is prerogative of the Prime Minister. He said that there is no democratic purpose behind the long march of Imran Khan.
Bilawal Bhutto said that it is question that whether President Dr. Arif Alvi will show his allegiance with Pakistan, Pakistani constitution, masses and democracy or honor friendship with Imran Khan. He said that Dr. Arif Alvi tried to get dissolve the National Assembly unconstitutionally at the time of the no-confidence motion. He said, “President Dr. Arif Alvi has the last chance and I hope he will follow the law and constitution but if he [President Alvi] tries to mess up, then he will also have to face the consequences.”
He held the former prime minister responsible for the economic crisis in the country and said that Khan wanted to sabotage the deal between Pakistan and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
The PPP chairman said that his party was against sit-ins since the beginning, adding that they adopted a democratic way to oust Imran Khan’s government.