ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has stressed the need to strengthen Parliament, saying the party has always respected the institution and wants it to play an effective role in the country’s democratic process.
Speaking to media in Islamabad, Bilawal said that if Parliament is to be respected, its standing committees must be made functional.
He urged opposition parties to return to the committees and play their role in the reform process, expressing hope that they would reconsider their decision.
He said the PPP had always played an important role in electoral reforms. He noted that, under the current circumstances, complaints regarding the electoral process were emerging from both the opposition and government benches.
Bilawal added that opposition parties, government allies and even government ministers were raising criticism and concerns about the electoral process.
“We all have a responsibility to play our part in addressing objections related to the electoral process,” he said, adding that the reform process could be taken forward by returning to the standing committees.
On the creation of new provinces, the PPP chairman said his party’s position was clear and that it would stand with the people’s opinion on the issue.
He said the PPP would not support imposing any decision on the people by force.
Regarding the issue of South Punjab, he said consensus already existed on the matter. However, he maintained that the PPP’s position on the creation of new provinces in Sindh was also clear.
“Where there is no consensus, new provinces should not be created,” he said.
