LAHORE: Foreign Minister and PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has called for unity for countering the threat of political as well as religious `extremism’. alongside the religious one.

He was speaking at the concluding session of the Asma Jahangir Conference here on Sunday. Former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, PTI MNA Munazza Hassan and former HRCP chairperson Afrasiab Khattak also spoke, while Munizae Jahangir moderated the session.

Bilawal said that political extremism was not just plaguing Pakistan but countries like India, Europe and the United States were also facing this menace. “If Islamabad is facing the threat of being encircled the same is the case with Washington.”

He hoped that the masses would reject chaos and extremism and stand with truth, democracy and development.

As occasional but vigorous sloganeering by supporters of incarcerated MNA Ali Wazir interrupted his speech, he advised them to protest before those who could win freedom for the parliamentarian from the defunct tribal belt in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The PPP leader sought appreciation for the no-confidence motion that saw a sitting prime minister being ousted from power through a democratic manner.

“Though all is not good [in the country], but, whether one likes it or not, one must appreciate the progress made in the parliamentary democracy by setting a new precedent that Imran Khan became the first prime minister sent packing home through a constitutional move – no-confidence motion. This point must be highlighted and stressed upon.”

In the past, he recalled, the prime ministers were either sent into exile or to the gallows, either the tactic of suicide bombing was used or the judiciary and (GHQ’s) Gate No-4 to depose a prime minister.

Defending the tough economic decisions the ruling alliance had to take and was paying political price for it, the foreign minister said the policy was necessary to save the country from default and the masses from further miseries.

Referring to the recent floods because of climate change in the country, he said the catastrophe it caused was unprecedented.

He said they were raising the issue at every world forum to seek justice for the country, which had a meager share of 0.8 percent in causing climate change but was among the top countries being affected by it.

Earlier, he fondly remembered the late Asma Jahangir and said had she been alive she would have asked him if I had struck any deal for becoming the foreign minister. Mr Abbasi regretted how the situation would improve when the Chief Justice of Pakistan could not provide justice by preferring juniors over senior judges [in promotion to the Supreme Court].

Mr Khattak lamented that former CJPs Saqib Nisar, Asif Khosa and incumbent Umar Ata Bandial had politicized the apex court.

He demanded that the parliament should also devise a framework for appointment of the army chief so that no political issue could be made out of it.

Published in Dawn, October 24th, 2022