KARACHI: While justifying the appointment of former prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani as the leader of the opposition in the Senate, the Pakistan Peoples Party on Saturday chose to parry criticism, claiming that it still wanted to keep the opposition Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) alliance intact.

PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari expressed his surprise over the recent reaction from the leadership of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz over Mr Gilani’s appointment and asked the opposition party to “be calm” and keep an eye on the long-term strategy.

“It was really surprising for me that how they [PML-N leaders] reacted and came up with harsh statements,” he told a press conference at Bilawal House. “I don’t want to discourage difference of opinion but prefer to set eyes on long-term struggle. So I would choose not to respond to such things.”

When reporters pushed him to respond to the fresh statements of PML-N’s Maryam Nawaz in which she referred to him and his party as “selected”, the PPP chairman was all smiles before putting the question back to reporters.

Demands PM step down over June 2020 petroleum shortage crisis

“Why do you want us [PPP and PML-N] fighting?” he said, to which the packed conference hall of Bilawal House Media Cell burst into laughter. “I have clearly said before and I say it again that it’s my fair intention and wish to keep the PDM intact. I deeply respect Maryam Nawaz and recognise her struggle during [difficult] times. I see it as a good sign that she’s emerging within the ranks of her party. We have to go a long way together.”

To a question, Mr Bhutto-Zardari came up with the brief history and background of his party’s move because of which Senator Gilani managed to win the opposition leader’s slot.

He said his party got 21 senators and with the support of two senators of the Awami National Party, one from the Jamaat-i-Islami, two independents and “four from the independent group of Dilawar Khan” Mr Gilani became the opposition leader.

He maintained that Senator Dilawar Khan had supported the PML-N in the past.

Mr Bhutto-Zardari, who remained cool and calm against all strong and critical questions with regard to his party’s role in the recent Senate elections, sounded somewhat harsh when he criticised the PML-N for nominating Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar for the office of the leader of the opposition despite knowing that he was the lawyer of police officers convicted in the Benazir Bhutto murder case.

“How can you expect me and my party leaders to accept such a decision?” he asked.

Rejects proposed SBP law

He vowed to resist a government move to amend a law governing the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) in the name of making it autonomous and targeting inflation rather than economic growth and called it the agenda of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

“We will challenge this illegal move on every forum and will never allow them to have our institutions mortgaged. The government would find PPP and its workers against all such moves,” he said.

He questioned the fresh decision of Prime Minister Imran Khan to remove his aide Nadeem Babar and the petroleum secretary from their posts while ordering a forensic investigation into the June 2020 countrywide petroleum shortage crisis to ensure transparency.

“So you make him [Nadeem Babar] a scapegoat?” he said. “This crisis was created under the nose of the prime minister and he is equally responsible for this mess. We demand the PM and his other aides step down for justifying such moves. This half-hearted and selected justice would not be accepted.”

Published in Dawn, March 28th, 2021