Islamabad: Co-Chairman Pakistan Peoples’ Party Asif Ali Zardari addressing National Assembly said that he is witness of history. “By grace of Almighty Allah, we were able to restore 1973 Constitution. However, what was dreamt by Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Wali Khan, Mufti Mehmood and others remains to be fulfilled”. Asif Ali Zardari asked Prime Minster Shehbaz Sharif to hold dialogue with opposition but there should not be any prior conditions.

Constitution of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was suspended in garb of new religious order. PPP has never used religion for its political gain. I have spent fourteen years of solitary confinement in prison and walked halls of history, Zardari said. Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto used to say that some things are taken to grave. This is because we are among those who created Pakistan and also are responsible for protecting it. We will not leave future generations with divided country. We will not let anyone play with Constitution. Those trying to create enmity among allies will not be successful. This is not first time that court has given notice. Masood Sharif was also given notice to explain himself for bugging court. He is on record to have stated that court was engaging in politics and it was his duty as DG of Intelligence Bureau to intervene.

Pakistan Peoples’ Party has always raised slogan of Pakistan. We have been protecting Pakistan and our determination is same today. As long as we can, we will help country and its democracy flourish. People keep saying that country will default and go bankrupt. Zardari said that he has witnessed suo-motus against him. Attempts were made to conjure witnesses but were unsuccessful. My sister was taken to prison at midnight on occasion of Eid. No suo-motu was taken at time. There were cameras in our washrooms and we submitted applications but no development took place. Listening device was caught in my hospital room and presented before court but no action was taken.

 We unitedly made 18th Amendment and NFC Awards possible. We raised our voices for rights of Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Balochistan will evolve and is home to people with political minds, but we have to talk to them and engage them. Currently, an enemy state has created an environment that does not allow for talks to take place. However, we will go to Balochistan and to KP.  Under PPP, Pakistan signed currency swap with five countries. Today, world is following suit as counties such as China, Russia, Malaysia and India are beginning inter-currency transactions. There is nothing that Pakistan cannot do. Good things take time and rushed judgements are hushed judgments as they do not strengthen democracy or country but pave way for chaos. We cannot afford chaos. We can request PM for dialogue with opposition, but they have to come to him as he is PM. Government of its time, led by PM is only valid authority to do dialogue. One cannot walk into dialogue with pre-conditions. It does not suit government to go into clash. We cannot go into clash at time when people cannot feed their children.

Published in The Daily National Courier, April, 11 2023

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