Bilawal Bhutto says Govt has not consulted PPP over ban on any party

Karachi: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari said on Saturday that the government had not consulted his leadership [PPP] over the ban on any political party.

Address via video link at the party's foundation day gathering, the former foreign minister said: “The government might be thinking to banning the parties with no political role. The PPP is not in favour of banning any political party or imposing governor rule in any province.”

Bhutto-Zardari called on Saturday for urgent government action to tackle inflation. He highlighted his party's concerns, he criticised some federal policies, including the plan to construct six canals, which he warned could harm national unity.

Bilawal said, "The federal government should engage provinces in dialogue over the canal issue to avoid potential conflict."

He asserted that the PPP would not support the government if it pursued the project "forcefully".

Bhutto-Zardari slammed the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government for threatening the centre instead of addressing its own issues.

Bilawal emphasised that the PPP has always acted in Pakistan’s interest, regardless of electoral setbacks or challenges, including being sidelined in election campaigns.

He highlighted his party's initiatives, such as the 18th Amendment and the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), which he credited with improving the lives of people in general.