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Saturday, April 13, 2024

Bilawal Supporting Arrested PTM Leaders: Diverting Attention from Mega-Corruption Scandals?

News Desk |

Chairman of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has written a letter to the Speaker of National Assembly, Asad Qaiser, asking for the issuance of production orders of arrested PTM lawmakers- Ali Wazir and Mohsin Dawar, who are currently in the custody of the Counter-Terrorism Department.

Farhatullah Babar, senior PPP leader, shared the letter written by Bilawal Bhutto Zardari via his Twitter account, stating, “Bilawal writes to Speaker to issue production orders for MNAs Ali Wazir & Mohsin Dawar. Warns against serious political and security implications of the treatment meted out to the two MNAs from ex tribal arras. Says will write to speaker about it separately to speaker.”

The attack led to an exchange of fire, which claimed the lives of 3 attackers, while injuring 15 others, including 5 soldiers.

MNAs Mohsin Dawar and Ali Wazir, senior leaders of the Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM), instigated violence by leading a group of people to attack a military check post in the tribal region of North Waziristan, in attempts to pressure the army to release a terrorist facilitator, reported the ISPR.

The attack led to an exchange of fire, which claimed the lives of 3 attackers, while injuring 15 others, including 5 soldiers. MNA Ali Wazir was arrested immediately and remanded into CTD custody, while MNA Mohsin Dawar remained at large after being arrested and remanded in CTD custody for eight days.

Read more: Shadow of Terror Looms over North Waziristan

Bilawal Advocating for PTM 

A spokesperson of the PPP revealed that Bilawal has written a letter to the NA speaker, demanding the immediate issuance of production orders for MNAs Wazir and Dawar, so they can arrive at the National Assembly and inform the house on “what did they go through at the hands of law enforcement agencies”.

Bilawal dispatched his letter to the speaker through a “special messenger” and has announced that he will soon pen down another letter to the speaker, describing the awful political and security situation prevailing across the country.

MNA Ali Wazir was arrested immediately and remanded into CTD custody, while MNA Mohsin Dawar remained at large after being arrested and remanded in CTD custody for eight days.

In his letter, Bilawal stated that the National Assembly has not been properly informed about the details of MNA Ali Wazir and MNA Mohsin Dawar’s arrest, and stressed that it is imperative to brief the parliament.

The PPP Chairman wrote, “It is almost a week since Ali Wazir, an Honorable Member of the House of which you are the custodian was arrested on May 26, 2019, by the law enforcing agencies in North Waziristan district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Charged with terrorism, he has been given in the custody of counter-terrorism authorities on physical remand for eight days.”

Earlier on 27th May, when a session of the National Assembly convened, the members had expected that the production orders of the arrested PTM leaders would be issued, however, the house was not informed of the arrests, nor were any production orders issued.

Read more: PTM’s jig is up: Ali Wazir arrested

Bilawal’s letter stated, “Further, it has just been reported that another Member of National Assembly, Mohsin Dawar, sought by law enforcing agencies has appeared before police in Bannu in connection with FIR filed against him.”

Bilawal’s letter pointed out Rule 103 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the National Assembly and explained that whenever a member is arrested on criminal charges, the Honorable speaker must be informed. He then cited the Rule 105 of the Conduct of Business in the National Assembly to state that the Speaker must share this information with the members of the Assembly.

National Assembly has not been properly informed about the details of MNA Ali Wazir and MNA Mohsin Dawar’s arrest, and stressed that it is imperative to brief the parliament.

Bilawal added, “However, when the House met the next day on Monday May 27, it was naturally expected that the Honorable Speaker would inform the Members and also issue production orders of MNA Ali Wazir under the Rules so that the latter could also explain his version of the events. Neither the House was informed about the arrest on criminal charges of MNA Ali Wazir nor was his production order issued. PPP MNA Mr. Naveed Qamar formally raised it but his plea was ignored.

The PPP Chairman concluded, “This is absolutely necessary, indeed critical, in view of the grave and far-reaching implications of the arrest on charges of terrorism of honorable members of the House, who have actually been fighting terrorism. Nearly a dozen family members of Ali Wazir have been martyred in fight against terrorism and it is highly worrying to charge him and Mohsin Dawar with terrorism.”

Read more: Murad Saeed blames Mohsin Dawar for fueling attack on army check…

PPP’s New Ploy to Distract People from NAB Cases?

Prominent analysts, journalists and nationalists have highlighted that Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and the Pakistan People’s Party have joined hands with the enemy (PTM) in a bid to divert attention from their corruption cases by raising a hue and cry for democracy.

The Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the National Assembly, and explained that whenever a member is arrested on criminal charges, the Honorable speaker must be informed.

Marvi Memon, PMNL leader and former Poverty Alleviation Minister, tweeted her observation, “It’s amusing that to avoid focus on their accountability mainstream parties r using those who have dared to work with the enemy against the flag and are talking about their rights. Actually it’s shameful. Anyway, it’s short term drama. Loving the distance lens!”

Jan Achakzai, Chairman of Centre for Geopolitics and Balochistan, shed light on the new political trend of maligning security institutions to emphasize one’s democratic values. Achakzai tweeted, “This is very fashionable now: every individual abusing & maligning army and security institutions, (whether, judge, journalist, or a politician) is PRO-Democracy. Isn’t shameful definition of democracy?”

Read more: MNA Mohsin Dawar arrested from North Waziristan

Another political analyst and writer, Asad Watoo, also raised the question of Bilawal’s support for anti-state actors. He tweeted, “So finally he (Bilawal) is out in support of PTM. Why PPP and PMLN always support anti-state actors? It’s not politics anymore, it’s state vs. corrupt. Let’s see who wins.”

Actor and political commentator, Hamza Ali Abbasi, reminded Bilawal of his actual obligations, primarily the HIV outbreak, and his lack of interest in providing patients with effective medical assistance. Abbas tweeted, “After extending full support to anti-Pakistan organisation PTM, Bilawal also said the Fed Govt is uselessly making a fuss abt HIV outbreak in Larkana as HIV is not AIDS & not a death sentence……JIYE BHUTTO!”