KARACHI: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has asserted that the political parties would have to stop the establishment from interfering in politics so transparent elections could be held in Pakistan.
Addressing a press conference in Karachi today (Monday), the PPP chairman said that the most important and fundamental aspect for stopping electoral rigging was to stamp out the role of the establishment in elections.
“If the establishment has an active role in the electoral process then no matter how much legislation we do, the elections will remain controversial,” Bilawal Bhutto added. Referring to NA-249 by-elections, Bilawal claimed that no active participatory role of the establishment had been observed in the NA-249 by-election in Karachi.
He said that his party has always been an advocate of electoral reforms, adding that the PPP is ready for all such reforms. Praising his party, he said that in every other by-polls, the vote bank of the PPP continues to increase.
In response to a question regarding PML-N’s reservations on NA-249 by-polls, he said that if the PML-N had any reservations on the results, then the relevant forums and methods were present for them to use. “Don’t appeal to the army,” he added.
The PPP chairman said he did not support the PML-N’s demand and called it irresponsible. “PML-N should seriously think whether their stance is only due to individual issues or do they want to take a principled stance,” he asserted.
