ISLAMABAD: The ruling Pakistan People’s Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has said that despite all challenges Pakistan is making its first constitutional and peaceful transfer of power from a democratic government to a new democratic government due to a strong and democratic set-up put in place by the PPP.
Addressing an international convention of the PPP in New York, he said Pakistan had been transformed from a dictatorship into a democracy and “we have restored the supremacy of parliament”.
Bilawal said the PPP would always stand by the overseas Pakistanis and was committed to ensuring the right to vote to them in the elections.
“We are committed to the idea that dual nationals should be able to participate in all our country’s civic matters and that includes the right to contest elections.”
He said that no unelected people had the right to question the loyalty of anyone elected by the people of Pakistan. Therefore, expatriate Pakistanis should be given the right to vote and contest the general elections.
Appreciating the contribution of the Pakistanis living abroad, Bilawal said he could understand their feelings as he was forced to live in exile along with his mother Benazir Bhutto.
Highlighting the achievements of the democratic government, he said:
“We have devolved power to the provinces, thus decentralising government and bringing it closer to the people.”
He said, “Where Musharraf treated the people of Balochistan as enemies of the state we see them as an integral part of our state of Pakistan.”
Bilawal also launched the PPP’s election campaign at the convention, underlining the government’s achievements and promising reforms for reviving an ailing economy.
One major achievement that he highlighted - “the first constitutional and peaceful transfer of power from a democratic government to a new democratic government” - is acknowledged by PPP’s rivals as well.
Internews
