Bilawal Bhutto says public consensus must decide new provinces

ISLAMABAD, August 19: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has said that any decision regarding the making of new provinces would have to be taken after reaching consensus.

In an interview to the media here, Bilawal said PPP had already put forth its stance on the matter of new provinces. The PPP, he said, will accept any decision reached through consensus and would reject any decision which is imposed through forceful means.

He said that PPP will take the side of the people and will accept the decision whatever be the result of it, depending on what the people think about it.

The PPP Chairman said he had met with Mahmood Achakzai and Allama Nasir Abbas and said that a consensus among allied parties is being developed.

The PPP Chairman, he said, had always respected the Parliament and would like it to be active.

Some of the opposition parties have decided to boycott the parliamentary procedures, he said. He emphasized that the parliamentary committees must be revived and hoped that the opposition would reconsider its position and join the standing committees.

Talking about election reforms, Bilawal Bhutto said that all opposition parties, government ministries and allied parties agree that there is need for improving the elections system. All political forces must join hands for election reforms, he said.

PPP Chairman said that his party was prepared to accept the election results but wanted to make sure that political workers do not lose their lives in the process of elections.

Regarding the Azad Kashmir elections, Bilawal said that if the PML-N wants to go ahead with such a controversial election, then congratulations are in order for the party.

The PPP Chairman also said that PPP’s cooperation with the government would remain suspended until their concerns are taken into consideration. PPP, he said, will not support any legislation other than those of national importance.

He added that if the government was able to get legislation passed without PPP, it can do so but no PPP member would vote against the party policies.