Speaker and Deputy-Speaker NA must resign: Bilawal Bhutto

Addressing a press conference after the National Assembly proceedings today, Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari lamented the fact that he was not allowed to speak in the session and demanded that the speaker and deputy-speaker step down immediately, ARY News reported on Monday.

“I demand resignations of the speaker and deputy-speaker of National Assembly of Pakistan,” said Pakistan People’s Party co-chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari.

Expanding further on his demand Bilawal continued: “that rules have not been followed, protocols were desecrated and the speakers failed the parliamentarians when members of the parliament were arrested without prior notice.”

A two member-bench of the Islamabad High Court comprising Justice Aamir Farooq and Justice Mohsin Kiyani announced the verdict on the bail plea filed by PPP leaders.

NAB requested the court to allow them the arrest the brother-sister duo for probe in the mega money laundering reference.

PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari and Faryal Talpur were not in attendance in the court room at the time of announcement of the verdict.

Following the orders of the IHC, a team of NAB reached Zardari House to arrest the PPP co-chairman as the arrest warrants of Faryal Talpur were not yet issued by the bureau.

Bilawal said that there have always been double standards when it came to People’s Party and other political parties, “people were not taken under custody in the past till proven guilty but our leadership is taken under arrest on allegations.”

“Everyone reserves the right to a fair trial; the speaker of Sindh Assembly was arrested on the roads of Islamabad,” said Bhutto-Zardari.

Speaking about party co-chairman and his father Asif Ali Zardari’s arrest earlier in the day pertaining to fake bank accounts case, Bilawal said that the government was afraid.

“It is clear that they wanted Asif Zardari to not be a part of today’s National Assembly proceedings, he was stopped from making it to the assembly by the government.”

Linking the presidential references against three top judges of the country, Bilawal was of the opinion that this was a means to create unnecessary anarchy.

“Cowards are trying to create conflict with the judiciary, hence the inquiries and references against them; this is testament to the fact that the government is scared.”

Rifts exist in Sindh, KPK and Balochistan, slogans of “Naya Pakistan, Na Khappay (We reject ‘Naya Pakistan)” have started coming to the forefront, said Bilawal Bhutto.

“We were not allowed to speak up during the time of dictatorship and the same is being done in the present regime’s rule,” added Bilawal.

“What happened today told me that the government does not want the National Assembly to function like it should, we will keep on demanding our due rights, PPP will not compromise on their rightful demands,” stressed the PPP chairman.

Answering a question about a possible street agitation against the government and it’s policies, the possibility of which have been a topic of discussion in the opposition, Bilawal said that a decision would be made in the CEC meeting later in the day.

“We are going to devise a stratagem in the central executive committee (CEC) meeting which is scheduled later in the day and then certainly would create public awareness and build campaigns against policies being undertaken by the government against the people.”

Bilawal asked: “You have arrested Nawaz Sharif, You have now arrested Asif Zardari, when will Aleema Khan be held accountable?”

Bilawal taking a jibe at the current government said, “We faced the odds in our tenure; the current regime is a puppet.”

Bilawal speaking about the National Accountability Bureau labelled it a ‘black law’.

“NAB is black law, a dictator created it and I am firmly against it those that think that arresting the leadership will put us under pressure and stop us but we will find a cure for NAB,” said Bilawal.

Answering an “innocent question” Bilawal said: “Everyone knows who made the present government and who is pulling the strings.”

Elaborating on the term of accountability, Bilawal said that accountability in essence means holding the present government responsible for its deeds, rather than taking the opposition under custody.

National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had arrested Asif Ali Zardari earlier in the day as Islamabad High Court (IHC) rejected bail pleas of the former president and his sister Faryal Talpur in the mega money laundering case.

It is pertinent to note that both the PPP leaders’ interim bail was extended five times during the court proceedings pertaining to the reference.