Bilawal hopes for intra-Aghan dialogue and peace in Afghanistan

LAHORE – Welcoming the US-Taliban peace deal despite fears of excluding the Afghan government, the chairman of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP), Bilawal Bhutto, expressed the hope of a real intra-Afghan dialogue for the restoration of real peace in this war-torn country.

"It seems that all stakeholders, including Pakistan, are working to secure Donald Trump's victory in the US elections. If this is the case, there will be no stability or benefit for Pakistan or Afghanistan, "he said in a speech to the Meet the Press program of the Lahore Press Club Monday afternoon.

Former Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, PPP President Punjab Qamar Zaman Kaira, Ch Manzoor Ahmed, Sindh Minister Nasir Shah and members of the LPC bureau were also present.

Bilawal said that only an Afghan-owned process can guarantee lasting peace in the country and the region.

"I doubt the success of the signed agreement without taking Afghan citizens and the government into account," he said, adding that the process starting with a tweet from Donald Trump and direct conversation with the Taliban does not could not produce the desired results. However, he expressed hope for a genuine intra-Afghan dialogue for a democratic solution to the issue.

Supports the US-Taliban agreement

Dispelling the impression of success of Imran Khan led the government to bring the United States and the Taliban to the table, he said that the situation was entirely different from that of the PPP or PML-N regimes.

“In our diet or during the PML-N diet, the Haqqanis were bad boys. But now even the New York Times is writing an editorial on Siraj Haqqani, "he said, adding that the goalposts had been changed this time and had nothing to do with the government. directed by Imran Khan.

Accusing the government of having no concrete plan, he said that the IMF negotiated with its own men and made accept anti-poor conditions without any resistance. He promised to renegotiate the terms with the IMF after he came to power with public support. He said the country could be run with public support, not the "finger of the referee".

He stressed the need to restore public confidence to increase tax collection. He said Sindh had managed to raise more revenue by reducing the sales tax rate.

Referring to the European Union report accusing the use of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) for the victimization of political opponents, he said that the president of the NAB should have resigned after the episode.

He said the business community has passed on this fact that NAB and the economy cannot go hand in hand with the Chief of the Military Staff, General Qamar Javed Bajwa.

He said that the "black law" should be abolished, thus paving the way for an institution where everyone could be held accountable and that those who were not guilty should not have to suffer agony. of the assassination of their personality.

He said no one would believe that Mian Nawaz Sharif had been put behind bars for corruption.

He regrets that NAB even sent a notice to the late brother of Syed Khurshid Shah.

He said the PPP was awaiting justice in the Zulfiqar Bhutto, Benazir Bhutto and Asif Zardari cases.

He hopes the institutions supposed to do justice will not become dam builders, a reference to the dam fund created by former chief justice Mian Saqib Nisar.

Bilawal said the PTI government attacked the press by not paying newspapers and electronic media for their unpaid contributions. "And on this excuse, journalists from all institutions have been dismissed," he said, adding that censorship was on the rise not only for the opposition, but also for journalists and network activists social.

To a question on the statement by Minister of Railways Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, he said that "discussions on the gutters should be left to the gutter".

"In the past, Imran Khan has continued to demand the resignation of the minister after each rail accident. Accidents have now increased considerably. He (Sheikh Rashid) tries to divert attention through his talks. Even Chief Justice Gulzar Chaudhry couldn't do anything against him, "he added. that the current mandate of the "chosen minister" would be the last, because the masses would no longer tolerate it.