Bilawal Bhutto Calls for National Unity Amid Security Crisis
Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has voiced serious concerns over the exclusion of major political parties from a recent high-level security meeting, urging Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to reconvene the session with broader participation.
Speaking at the Punjab Governor’s House on Monday, Bilawal emphasized the need for political unity to combat rising terrorism, particularly in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He criticized opposition parties for prioritizing narrow political agendas over national security, stating, “While the country faces existential threats, some remain focused on scoring political points rather than addressing these challenges.”
Addressing Opposition Leader Omar Ayub Khan directly, Bilawal urged him to shift focus from securing the release of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders—including former Prime Minister Imran Khan, whom he indirectly referred to as “Qaidi number whatever”—to tackling pressing national issues.
“Pakistan is grappling with terrorism, economic instability, and provincial conflicts,” Bilawal stated. “The public expects solutions, not political vendettas.”
Highlighting external influences exacerbating terrorism, Bilawal stressed that internal consensus is crucial for stability. He positioned the PPP as a neutral mediator, saying, “We are neither in government nor opposition, which allows us to bridge divides and foster collaborative problem-solving.”
The PPP chairman also underscored his party’s grassroots priorities, contrasting them with PTI’s focus on its leadership’s legal battles. “Our workers sacrificed to regain footing in Punjab because they care about governance—not political theatrics,” he remarked.
Praising Punjab Governor Sardar Saleem Haider for maintaining open access to the Governor’s House, Bilawal reaffirmed PPP’s commitment to public engagement: “This house will always welcome citizens, even when other institutions turn them away.”
Concluding with a call for solidarity, Bilawal warned that Pakistan’s survival hinges on collective action. “Divisive politics must end. Our shared future depends on unity today.”
