Addressing a gathering at the Martyrs’ Memorial in Karachi on Sunday to mark the 19th anniversary of the Karsaz tragedy, Bilawal criticised KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi over the province’s security situation, alleging that he was unwilling to confront terrorism.
Bilawal said the PPP was prepared to fight terrorism and warned that the security situation in KP could deteriorate further if political forces failed to unite against militancy.
“If the opposition stands with the federal government against terrorism, the emergency can end,” the PPP chairman said, stressing that cooperation among political parties was necessary to restore peace.
He defended the federal government’s decision to impose governor’s rule and an emergency in KP, describing both measures as constitutional. He added that the opposition would need to engage in dialogue if it wanted the measures withdrawn.
Bilawal pays tribute to Karsaz martyrs
Recalling the Karsaz tragedy, Bilawal paid tribute to those who lost their lives in the terrorist attack targeting former prime minister Benazir Bhutto’s homecoming procession.
He said Benazir had returned to Pakistan despite serious security threats, but her procession was attacked in one of the country’s most tragic incidents.
The PPP chairman said his party had consistently opposed terrorism and acknowledged the sacrifices made by people from different walks of life in the fight against militancy.
He also recalled the military operation in Swat, saying it fulfilled Benazir Bhutto’s commitment that Pakistan’s national flag would fly in the region.
Bilawal alleged that terrorists had previously been allowed to return and resettle in Pakistan and that some prisoners convicted of terrorism had been released. He said the country was now facing the consequences of those decisions, with KP experiencing a particularly serious security situation.
He reiterated that the PPP considered the elimination of terrorism a national responsibility and would continue its efforts until militancy was defeated.
Calls for national unity and political dialogue
Bilawal stressed that political differences should not prevent parties from cooperating against terrorism. He warned that no one should be allowed to create instability at a time when Pakistan was facing serious security and economic challenges.
He also described the country’s economic situation as a historic crisis and called on political parties to participate in proposed parliamentary discussions on electoral reforms.
According to Bilawal, dialogue and political compromise were necessary to address disagreements and strengthen democratic institutions.
On the question of creating new provinces and administrative units, he said such changes could be made through constitutional and legal procedures, subject to provincial approval.
Referring to Gilgit-Baltistan, he questioned why a new province had not been established if political consensus on the matter already existed.
The PPP chairman also reiterated that his party was not part of the federal government, while emphasising the importance of cooperation among political stakeholders.
Bilawal’s remarks come amid continuing debate over the federal government’s response to terrorism in KP and the constitutional measures introduced to address the province’s security challenges.
He maintained that national unity, political dialogue and a coordinated counterterrorism strategy were essential to restoring peace and protecting Pakistan from further instability.
