Bilawal admits Sharif’s statement about army took him by surprise

BBC Urdu has reported that Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto said he was “blindsided” when former prime minister Nawaz Sharif named top military leadership in a Pakistan Democratic Moment (PDM) rally last month.Reflecting on the Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) supremo’s move to name military leadership in his Gujranwala speech, Bilawal said that it was the former prime minister’s personal decision.Admitting to being blindsided by the speech, Bilawal hoped that Sharif would soon reveal evidence to support his statement.“We avoid such comments during public gatherings. No one person can be held responsible for bringing (Prime Minister) Imran Khan to power.”Bilawal claimed that the incumbent government has lost the trust of the masses and blamed it for rising inflation and the current economic crisis.“The country is going through a difficult period,” he said, adding that a progressive democratic force is the only way out. “Even a weakened democracy is much better than dictatorship.”The PPP chairman said his party’s fight for democracy is three-generation strong. “We are pushing for civilian governance and a strong democracy through democratic channels.”Bilawal also said that the “kidnapping” of Sindh Inspector-General Mushtaq Ahmed Mahar as well as the arrest of PML-N leader Captain (retired) Safdar Awan from a Karachi hotel are both matters under investigation.He added that there had been no further correspondence with Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa on the Karachi incident.“I am confident the investigation will be completed,” he said, demanding that those responsible be identified and punished. “I am patiently waiting to be informed about the inquiry.”“The PDM demands the formation of a fact-finding commission to investigate the role of the establishment during democratic regimes,” Bilawal told BBC Urdu. “The commission should also probe the establishment’s role in the formation of the incumbent government.”He termed Prime Minister Khan’s promise to make Gilgit-Baltistan a province ahead of the November 15 elections as “rigging”.He said the premier and his party cannot be trusted due to their “U-turns”.“Imran Khan breaks all his promises. He promised to make South Punjab a separate province within the first 100 days of his government,” the PPP leader recalled. “But he didn’t.”Bilawal said his party will table a constitutional amendment in the Parliament on GB’s provincial status.