Bilawal asks political parties to unite against Taliban threat
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KARACHI: Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, Chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and son of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto has called on the country’s political leadership to wake up to the threat posed by militant groups including the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
Speaking to the BBC's Lyse Doucet in an interview, Bilawal said some of the country’s political leaders were afraid to take a clearly defined position on the issue of talks with the Taliban.
The PPP chairman said “we are failing” as the country’s brave voices were dying out one after the other, adding that if we acted in unison, the Taliban would not be able to challenge us.
On the topic of negotiations with the Taliban, Bilawal said Pakistan should maintain a strong position and for that the militants would have to first be defeated and subdued.
Bilawal added that there was no consensus in the country on the issue of holding talks and whatever consensus had been developed earlier was wasted by the politicians who called Pakistan’s war America’s war.
Moreover, Bilawal opined that such politicians had pushed the nation into a mirage, adding that talks must be held on the condition of the Taliban laying down their weapons.
The patron-in-chief of PPP also reflected that his life was threatened due to him being stridently against the actions of the Taliban.
On the issue of elections, he said his objective was not to become the country’s prime minister but to unite the nation and bring peace and stability in the country.
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On DawnNews
Jan 28, 2014 11:03am
Another Joker trying to become a lying politician. He will succeed just like the rest of the lying and cheating politicians out there. He thinks people take him seriously.
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Jan 28, 2014 11:20am
Lets send him to fight the evil; this is the best use we can get out of him.
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Jan 28, 2014 11:23am
2014 is the year for Pakistan to turn around.i see finally that political parties dared to talk about military action.
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Jan 28, 2014 12:20pm
"Talks must be held on the condition of the Taliban laying down their weapons"
YES, this is the only way peace talks should be held, gun & peace don't go together.
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Jan 28, 2014 01:49pm
I wonder where was he hiding his ideas for five years when his father was in total control, I would ask him to at least have a little decency and leave the people of this country alone . same old pathetic empty speeches . Nawaz , zardari , have destroyed our country and they still want more .we don't have anything left to give you . and now an even worse new generation is ready to suck our blood. God help us all . wolves are watching the hen house.
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Jan 28, 2014 02:00pm
Like they are for their own interests.
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Jan 28, 2014 02:23pm
Dear little boy, stop this drama and go back to your cushy life in London, Dubai or Karachi. You and your father have given Pakistan such a bad name. I think you have done enough damage to the country. Please leave Pakistan alone. We are fine without you, thank you.
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Jan 28, 2014 02:51pm
Nothing new. Other party leaders have been trying to convince the nation for the past 6 years but no one listens to one who has been defamed by the establishment.
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Jan 28, 2014 02:59pm
This is a hollow political gesture by Bilawal Bhutto. Bilawal is himself a product of system of appeasement of religious fanatics for political and personal gain by landed gentry. The rot is deep and complete (that includes the constitution) and it has brought Pakistan to a point of collapse and probably to a point of no return. Pakistan has been ruled by incompetent selfish leaders and that included Army and Bilawars parents and his grandfather. There are several competent Pakistan's living abroad who are quite capable a providing a decent governance but who will want to go to Pakisatan
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Jan 28, 2014 04:19pm
Who will unite against u thats more important
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Jan 28, 2014 04:42pm
barring war option in his statement otherwise he is following footsteps of PTI policies.... wow the funniest statement ever released. too naive and too immature a leader will he ever be... with such disdain for his political appetite it may not be Zardari but Bilawal himself who might get his party dissolved / fade out of our politics for good....
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Jan 28, 2014 04:48pm
Look who is talking
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Jan 28, 2014 04:53pm
May I ask Bilawal why his father allied with Taliban during his 5 years in office why he was not able to capture or kill your mother's killer who was in the ranks of Taliban. Mr Bilawal you are too immature to be in politics. If you have the courage give up your position to some senior PPP worker who deserve this position more than you. Be honest and fair do not think that educated class of Pakistan will be fooled any more.
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Jan 28, 2014 06:09pm
His full name is 'Bilawal Bhutto Zardari Twitter' :)
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Jan 28, 2014 06:20pm
As a first step against fanaticism,the political parties can unite and over turn the blasphemy law.They can also unite against nepotism ad corruption.Lip service in speeches is waste of time.
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Jan 28, 2014 06:24pm
I hav'nt seen such a childish behaviour from a party chairman in my life with contradictions all over the speech. but i would like to mention the funniest one that mention grassroat level politics infact he was selected chaiman of the party when he did not have any interest in politics. Secondly the body language and facial expressions are not even expected from the teenager.
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Jan 28, 2014 06:27pm
Bilawal, you are 100 percent right. We are with you.One day you will be our Prime Minister.
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Jan 28, 2014 06:30pm
Bilawal when will you come on the TV talk show and face questions from the public?
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Jan 28, 2014 07:27pm
At least, he is clear in his stance ...
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Jan 28, 2014 07:42pm
Bilawal will be the new face of PPP very soon and if he is smart and really wants to help people he will have to start the cleaning process from within his house. Political parties who have made a good impression on our minds are PPP, MQM and ANP because of their bold stance and sacrifices. The parties that need to disappear from the political grounds of Pakistan are PML, JUI and JI and the Lotas parties that are only there with one or two seats so they can join others when needed. If that setup is still far then we have another option of Dr Tahir ul Qadri and in that scenario we can get a clean slate and start with fresh faces.
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Jan 28, 2014 08:06pm
Bilawal knows very well that this can't happen. We have parties that have extremist views and for them to unite with parties who are more liberal in thinking is next to impossible. So, he comes up with an idea, that cannot be implemented. WOW! for once, I thought this man will say something of substance - but unfortunately - it did not happen. Instead of saying he fully supports our present government with their military response to these insurgents, he comes up with this far-fetched idea of bringing all the parties together and having a conditional negotiations with the Talibans. Whoever your adviser is - I think maybe you should consider firing him/her and thinking with your own head - what the viable option is. It does not take a rocket scientist to know what kind of people we are dealing with and what the most practical approach is, to silence them once and for all!
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Jan 28, 2014 09:37pm
Where was he when his father was the president? How come he didn't ask his father to 'wake up to the threat posed by the militant groups'
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Jan 28, 2014 09:45pm
I agree with u ,SAADAT , TS ,USA .
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Jan 28, 2014 11:39pm
Most excellent idea your Royal Highness. Now tell your dad to return our looted wealth.
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Jan 29, 2014 12:15am
@Khalid:
You are right but of course we want the money they stole from us.
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Jan 29, 2014 12:22am
One may not agree with PPP's style of governance but it's an undeniable fact that the young Bilawal is the most powerful anti-Taliban voice in today's Pakistan.
The way he's improving his profile, he has definitely got a long way to go in filling the leadership vacuum in Pakistan.
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Jan 29, 2014 01:07am
@syed:
Bilawal may also join the armed forces and insist he is stationed in North Waziristan! That will do it!
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Jan 29, 2014 01:25am
Are you sure, Bilawal, that a leader of any party is listening to you?
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Jan 29, 2014 01:41am
Friends don't take him seriously he is just a kid :)
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Jan 29, 2014 02:11am
Chairman of PPP(Twitter group) should come out of the hiding of Twitter and address in the public meetings before threatning the terrorists. He is is going on the same path as his mother she didnt do anything for Pakistan and died to give another life to PPP. PPP is the group of corrupt people.
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Jan 29, 2014 02:31am
Leave the confines of Garhi Khuda Bakhash, go to Chowk Yadgar, Peshawar - make a speech,unite the nation. Your father could not do it , here is a chance for you to do it.
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Jan 29, 2014 03:41am
Zardari very skillfully, has created, something like other Waderas and Pirs of Sind, to get a seat in Sind or National Assembly. But Bhutto family has nothing to do with vision of Bhutto. They are like the Pirs of Sind, they will always exploit Bhutto's name. Bhutto died at the gallows and took his vision with him.
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Jan 29, 2014 09:27am
Bilawal asks political parties to unite against Taliban threat. I will ask all forces in Pakistan to get united against these evil politicians including Mr Burger Bilawal who are more dangerous than the TTP.
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Jan 29, 2014 11:40pm
@Goga Nalaik:
Clear? He is clueless.
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Jan 30, 2014 02:07am
Why does he keep making a fool out of himself each time he opens his mouth? May I live to see that day when we will have done with these shallow, characterless feudal lords and clergy.
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Jan 30, 2014 04:57am
The government wants to try negotiations with Taliban and find out if negotiated settlement can be reached which can save hundreds of lives on both sides. Now if you don't like this approach, Please go and fight against the taliban and take your Dad and his pir Ejaz with you. You guys definitely need a divine intervention.
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Jan 30, 2014 01:19pm
According to a famous saying, " Don't look who is saying but look what has been said", so my Thumbs may down to the person who is saying but Thumbs up for what he is saying.
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Jan 30, 2014 02:02pm
Twitter Bhutto.
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Jan 30, 2014 04:38pm
United we stand divided we fall.it is absolutely true
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Jan 30, 2014 06:29pm
Pakistanis have had enough of your jokes. Your friends miss your jokes in London. Go back and entertain them now. Thank you.
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Jan 30, 2014 06:31pm
@Syed:
And what about you yourself?
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Jan 30, 2014 06:34pm
@babar:
By the way who are you?
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Jan 30, 2014 06:37pm
@Ruman Younis:
It is sure
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Jan 30, 2014 06:45pm
@independentthinker:
PPP is already cooperating fully with the govt.in this matter.Is it not enough?
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Jan 30, 2014 06:50pm
@Mohammad Waseem:
I support you.But PTI is also a bunch of noise makers and pro Taliban.
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Jan 30, 2014 06:51pm
@shaukat:
I am sorry he is very much on your nerves, God help you.
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Jan 30, 2014 06:54pm
@Rashed Chughtai:
He will go no where but mount your nerves
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Jan 30, 2014 06:58pm
@Murad:
Your favourites can also do nothing.Plesae do not hoodwink the poor people with false claims and hollow promises.
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Jan 30, 2014 07:07pm
@Mansur Rahemtullah:
He did not care because you were after his father, giving him a very hot pursuit.When did you spare him?
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Jan 31, 2014 01:24am
We will continue to be ruled by Bilawal, Zardari and Nawaz unless people start complaining on the streets.
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Jan 31, 2014 03:42am
@Sheena:
I will give thumbs down - even to what he is saying! Do you really think all the parties will unite? We have some parties who are "Taliban Sympathizers" - they will never agree to anything that will undermine the Taliban cause. One just needs to provide full support to the military and the government, to finish the job of defeating and eliminating the Talibans from Pakistani soil.
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