Islamabad: Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari while slamming PTI Chief  said that Imran Khan was first prime minister who launched a “suicide attack on economy” leaving country on verge of default.

  “For progress of country’s democracy, it is huge that Imran Khan became first prime minister who was ousted by parliament in Pakistan,” he said while addressing Asma Jahangir conference here.

Bilawal said that there have been many ups and downs in Pakistan’s political history but whenever political institutions progressed, “we should appreciate it”, adding that Imran’s ouster was an “achievement for all political forces”.

“This is only legitimate way for a prime minister’s ouster. He attained [prime minister’s] chair undemocratically but we removed him democratically,” he added. He said that in past, Pakistan’s prime ministers were either targeted by terrorism or were shown door by courts. “We should not knock gate number 4 for a change or seek court’s intervention,” he said in an apparent reference to establishment.

 He said that when Imran Khan left government, country was facing many problems. We were heading towards default and he was playing Russian roulette with the economy,” he added. He said that all parties from Pakistan Democratic Movement paid political cost to save country from default. On floods, “This country had not seen such catastrophe. All provinces were badly affected by these floods. Even today, in Sindh and Balochistan many areas are inundated,” he added. “Our focus is still on political fights in Islamabad. We’re not at fault for devastation we’re facing today.” 

 He said that rehabilitating 33 million people is no small challenge for any country but expressed hope that Pakistan will make an example for world. He said that Pakistan’s crops are destroyed and economy is facing further pressure.

Bilawal said, “We will continue to defend democratic process in Pakistan”. “We must stop our youth from extremism.

Published in The Daily National Courier, October, 24 2022

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