News Analysis |
In the latest development, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has grilled the incumbent government for its alleged inability to present the case of Pakistan on the international stage. The PPP chairman categorically said that the PTI government’s foreign policy has led to the country’s “isolation on the international stage”. However, such blunt political rhetoric is widely being considered as stark exaggeration on the part of PPP.
According to details, Bilawal maintained that the PTI has destroyed country’s foreign policy. He was referring to the recent revocation of Article 370 by India. “It took them [the government] a year to destroy our foreign policy,” said Bilawal while addressing a public gathering in Skardu, Gilgit-Baltistan on Thursday.
A few days ago, President PPP Punjab Qamar Zaman Kaira and General Secretary PPP Punjab Chaudhry Manzoor Ahmed along with other PPP leaders said that due to the incapable government terrorism is once again raising its head in Pakistan and condemned the mosque attack in Quetta which reportedly killed and injured several worshippers. PPP leaders also cursed the PTI government for arresting opposition leaders under the “pretext of corruption”.
It is believed that PPP chairman cunningly offered unconditional support to the prime minister after seeing a big crowd in the Washington DC.
PPP leadership’s remarks raise questions in the present context as the UN Security Council held a consultative meeting to discuss the issue of Kashmir for the first time in 50 years. China, Pakistan’s ally, categorically termed the act of annexation invalid and something which may lead to serious political instability in the region and beyond. Similarly, the Organization of Islamic Countries (OIC) also issued a strongly worded statement and demanded an immediate end to the curfew and the widespread violations of human rights in Kashmir. The OIC also demanded a fact finding commission under the UN to ascertain the state of human rights in the valley.
Pakistan’s permanent representative to the UN, Maleeha Lodhi, has said that it is the diplomatic win of Pakistan that Security Council took up the issue of Kashmir after 50 years. She also said that the Indian representative at the UN looked defensive and later had to admit that Kashmir is an internationally recognized disputed territory.
https://twitter.com/PTIofficial/status/1162528720697118720
However, the PPP leadership pointed out that the PTI government is busy in victimizing its political opponents. The government has arrested leaders of PPP and PML (N) and has done nothing on any front. It is so unfortunate that Faryal Talpur was transferred to prison at midnight when his brother was in NAB’s custody and Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari was in Muzaffarabad to celebrate Eid with his Kashmiri brethren. This coward government had earlier arrested Maryam Nawaz in front of his father when she was visiting him in prison. This all is being done to satisfy the ego of puppet prime minister, he added.
Read more: APC: Will joint opposition politicize Kashmir dispute for vested interests?
Political analysts maintain that the opposition was expecting a soften treatment after the rise of Kashmir issue. However, the Khan-government did not show any flexibility regarding ongoing accountability drive. Prime Minister Khan recently said that if someone thinks his government shall get toppled because of strict accountability policy, “I am even willing to sacrifice my life for the national cause”.
Despite Foreign Minister’s repeated requests that the issue of Kashmir shall remain a concern of everyone in the country, opposition is sparing not opportunity to do politics. Interestingly, after PM Khan’s visit to the US and a successful meeting PPP chairman intelligently offered unconditional support him. Taking to Twitter, the PPP chairman said: “I’ve many reservations about our PM, his undemocratic politics & economically fatal polices. I also believe much of his conduct abroad particularly his jalsa is unbecoming of a PM who is supposed to represent 🇵🇰 [Pakistan] not just PTI”.
It is believed that PPP chairman cunningly offered unconditional support to the prime minister after seeing a big crowd in the Washington DC. It would have been politically incorrect to not support Khan even after seeing his support in the USA.
But now the opposition seems to exploit the critical regional situation to seek some concession regarding accountability. Both Nawaz Sharif and Asif Ali Zardari along with other senior leadership have been arrested. Both parties are using all channels to seek some concession and get the leaders released.
Read more: Humanitarian crisis impending in occupied Kashmir: FO
Unfair Criticism?
The PPP chairman has offered unfair criticism on the external policy of the PTI. Even the most outspoken critic of the premier and his party have openly acknowledged that the PTI has earned much more on foreign fronts than any other government in the modern history of the country. The most important achievement is marked as PM Khan’s successful visit to the USA.