Bilawal | Pakistan

PPP Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari said on Thursday that the federal government had promised that allocations for provinces under the 7th National Finance Commission (NFC) award would be “protected”, and that the Centre would not request any further “help or sacrifice” following the recent decision to freeze development allocations for the provinces. Bilawal joined the budget debate a day after he held a meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who is reported to have convinced the head of his coalition partner PPP to attend the budget session in the NA. “The provinces’ NFC award and financial resources have been kept protected; no damage will be caused to them,” Bilawal declared while addressing the NA, which was debating the proposed federal budget for the next fiscal year (FY27). “Besides this decision, the provincial governments will not be required to make any sacrifices,” he added. The government has decided to freeze development allocations for the provinces for three years to generate more than...

• PPP leader likely to deliver speech today, to ‘share reservations’ on budget; lauds premier, Field Marshal Munir for Iran peace deal • PM Office says Shehbaz, Bilawal agreed on ‘sustained collaboration’ between Centre, provinces for completion of projects ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif managed to convince the head of his coalition par­t­ner, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhu­tto-Zardari, to join the budget session after the latter skipped ear­lier debates owing to his gri­e­v­­a­n­ces with the federal government. The PPP leader was also reluctant to join the budget debate, and it took Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi to convince him to come to the house so that the budget could be tabled. A source close to Bhutto-Zardari said the PPP leader still had reservations but agreed to deliver his speech in the lower house, most likely on Thursday (today), where he would share some of his concerns. In the meeting at the PM House, the premier agreed to address all the PPP concerns r...

Shehbaz woos Bilawal on budget backing

• Party claims budget differs from figures shared during pre-budget consultations • Questions provinces’ capacity to meet IMF-linked revenue targets • Another round of talks expected soon ISLAMABAD: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Tuesday once again conveyed his concerns over the federal budget to Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, indicating that he would not speak during the ongoing budget debate in the National Assembly unless all of the party’s reservations were addressed. “Bilawal sahib has decided that he will not deliver his speech unless all promises made by the government with the PPP regarding the budget are fulfilled,” a source close to the PPP chairman told Dawn after the meeting. In the huddle with Dar held at Parliament House, Mr Bhutto-Zardari was accompanied by senior PPP leaders, including Sherry Rehman, Naveed Qamar, Raja Pervez Ashraf and Ijaz Jakhrani. The source said Bhutto-Zardari appeared upset with the budget, stating that it was different from the docume...

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Sunday appealed to those protesting in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) to end their demonstrations, cautioning that the ongoing unrest was “damaging both the Kashmiri cause and Pakistan’s reputation”. In a statement issued on Sunday, Bilawal — whose PPP is in government in AJK — noted that the imminent signing of the Pakistan-mediated peace pact between the United States and Iran “marks a historic moment”. “At a time when the international spotlight is firmly on Pakistan, the ongoing unrest in Azad Jammu and Kashmir is damaging both the Kashmiri cause and Pakistan’s reputation,” the former foreign minister said. He observed that the unrest was “also creating an unnecessary opportunity for hostile actors and the India-Israel nexus to exploit the situation for their own purposes”. “I therefore appeal to all protestors to bring their demonstrations to a peaceful conclusion. Those individuals who have taken the law into their own hands should surrender themselves to the local a...

ISLAMABAD: PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Friday welcomed Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s statement regarding the formation of a government in Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) and expressed his gratitude. The PPP is all set to form a government in the region after it gained 11 out of 24 seats in the GB Legi­slative Assembly, according to the unofficial results (Form-47) of the June 7 elections. According to Radio Pakistan, the prime minister assured full support from the PML-N to the PPP on government formation. The prime minister said the PML-N has decided to sit on the opposition benches in the Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly, but its elected members will vote in favour of the PPP to form the government. In a statement, Bilawal said that recognising the PPP’s majority in GB is the continuation of a democratic tradition and added that the party views the premier’s invitation to form the government as a “positive step”. “As a result of a consensus agreement, the positions of governor and deputy speaker of ...

PPP set to form G-B govt as Bilawal hails PM's support

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, whose party holds the majority in the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly, said on Sunday he would meet Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif over the current situation in AJK, asserting that issues would be resolved through talks. He said this while presiding over a meeting of the PPP AJK parliamentary party in Islamabad, a statement issued by the PPP said. The meeting was held as tensions gripped AJK, with the region’s government declaring the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) a proscribed organisation and the latter insisting on its demand to abolish 12 refugee seats in the AJK Legislative Assembly. The group also plans to hold a protest on June 9, days ahead of June 27 elections in the region. The PPP statement said the party’s political affairs in-charge Faryal Talpur was also present at the meeting on Sunday where the political situation in AJK was reviewed. “Consultations were held between Bilawal and parliamentary party members regarding the AJK situation,”...

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Friday promised to ensure the right of ownership and the protections of the 18th Constitutional Amendment for the people of Gilgit-Baltistan. His remarks came during a public rally in Gilgit, part of his region-wide campaign ahead of the June 7 elections. Addressing the rally, Bilawal said it was part of the PPP’s election manifesto to grant all constitutional rights to the region, including the right to own land and financial protections under the 18th Constitutional Amendment. He urged the people of GB to give the PPP a “heavy mandate”, so the party could continue its struggle to secure the region’s ownership rights, calling on them to spread his message. Bilawal said legislation on the matter had been tabled in the Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly and had been passed by the house. “As per the legislation, 28,000 square miles of land owned by the government has been converted into common land. We have fulfilled our promise to this stage,” the PPP chairman said. Bilawal added ...

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Thursday urged Gilgit-Baltistan voters to give his party a “heavy” mandate by securing a majority in order to safeguard the region’s rights. Bilawal was addressing a rally in Ghizer, amid a series of rallies across GB as the PPP and other political parties have, over the past few days, ramped up efforts to garner support ahead of the polls. Referring to the nine seats the PPP had won in the last GB elections, Bilawal claimed other seats had been stolen. However, this time, “no one can steal seats from you, and this means that all three of Ghizer’s seats will be yours,” he added. Of other political parties in the running, he said the party wanted a “heavy majority in GB — not for me, but for you” so that together they could complete Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s and Benazir Bhutto’s “incomplete” mission in the region. The PPP chairman highlighted the achievements of those who came before him, including Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s subsidies that continued to benefit the region, and Bena...

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Wednesday vowed to address resettlement concerns of those affected by the construction of the Diamer-Bhasha Dam on an “immediate basis” if his party emerges victorious in the June 7 polls. Bilawal made the declaration while addressing a rally in Diamer, as the PPP and other political parties have, over the past few days, ramped up efforts to garner support ahead of the polls. Addressing the rally, the Bhutto scion asserted that the project saw “great progress” during the PPP’s tenure. He added that had President Asif Ali Zardari’s government not been removed in 2013, the Diamer-Bhasha Dam would have been built by now. The PPP chairman lamented that it was “unfortunate” that affected citizens of the region had not had their resettlement issues addressed. “I would like to promise you that after June 7 — when PPP forms government in GB — we will ensure that the work is [completed] and as far as resettlement is concerned, we will address it on an immediate basis,” Bilawal sa...

PPP Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari said on Monday that any new constitutional amendment should provide protection to the rights of Gilgit-Baltistan (GB). “If any constitutional amendment has to be made anywhere, it is very important that the rights of GB are protected under it,” Bilawal said while addressing a rally in GB’s Shigar ahead of the June 7 elections in the region. In this connection, he said, “We can take forward their struggle for their right of rule (haq-i-hakimiyat)”. For this, the first step would be to hold elections in GB and the rest of Pakistan at the same time, he said. “When elections are held in Gilgit-Baltistan and the rest of Pakistan at the same time, progress in GB’s struggle for right of rule will be made in the true sense,” he added. “If we want to ensure the right of rule [for GB], demands or aims should be to hold elections in GB at the same time as general elections in Pakistan.” Bilawal also said the PPP would work towards getting the “same rights and resources for GB as ot...

ISLAMABAD, May 14: PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Thursday said that the government had not contacted him or his father, President Asif Ali Zardari, regarding a constitutional amendment. His remarks came amid media reports about the government’s intention to have the 28th constitutional amendment passed by parliament. “President Zardari and I remain in contact with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, but the government has not contacted the PPP regarding any constitutional amendment,” the PPP chief said at a press conference after chairing the parliamentary party meeting at the Parliament House in Islamabad. Responding to questions, Bilawal said that without the PPP, the passage of constitutional amendments and the federal budget would not be possible. “The PPP’s role in the 26th and 27th constitutional amendments is evident to everyone. We did not allow the rights of the provinces to be reduced; instead, we expanded them. Through our amendments, Balochistan’s representation in the Senate increased,” he ad...

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Monday hailed Pakistan’s “victory” against India during last year’s military conflict, affirming that the country was “not a nation that bows”. He was addressing an event in Karachi organised by the Sindh government to commemorate Marka-i-Haq, where Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah also spoke. The term “Marka-i-Haq” is used by the state to refer to the 2025 conflict with India, starting from the April 22 Pahalgam attack to the end of Operation Bunyanum Marsoos with a ceasefire on May 10. “This victory was not the victory of weapons alone. It was a triumph of resolve. It was a triumph of unity and of people who refused to kneel,” said Bilawal, who is also the former foreign minister and had led a delegation abroad to convey Pakistan’s stance on the conflict. “From the mountains of the north to the shores of the Arabian Sea, from the fields of Punjab to the deserts of Sindh and Balochistan, Pakistan stood as one,” he affirmed. “We are not a nation that bows before pressure. W...

Former foreign minister and PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari termed the US-Iran talks taking place in Islamabad on Saturday the “biggest achievement so far” in efforts to end the Middle East war. He expressed these views during an interview with Al Jazeera, during which he was asked how difficult it would be for Pakistan to get something “concrete” out of the talks, which are taking place in the federal capital after Islamabad brokered a two-week ceasefire between the US and Iran. In his response, Bilawal said: “The fact that the talks are even happening is the biggest achievement thus far. It’s significant that the ceasefire is in effect [and] the bombing has stopped in Iran and across most of the Middle East, and the two major [powers] are now negotiating. “We hope that this ceasefire is built upon towards a more lasting and permanent resolution to this conflict.” Bilawal added that not only the people of Pakistan, but the people of the entire world were watching the talks with “cautious optimism”. “We b...

Former foreign minister and PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has said that the world does not have a “plan B” if the US-Iran talks fail to yield the desired results and emphasised the need for the negotiations to lead to a peaceful resolution to the Middle East war. Bilawal shared these thoughts in an interview with Sky News, where he was asked ahead of the talks scheduled in Islamabad for Saturday, “don’t result in a formal treaty” during the two-week ceasefire between the US and Iran, “do you have a plan B to prevent a return to full-scale hostilities”. In his response, Bilawal said: “I think the international community doesn’t have a plan B. Our Plan A needs to be achieving a peaceful resolution to this conflict and a more permanent peace. I think the way this conflict has played out has proven that a war of this nature, a war of this scale, is not an option.” He continued: “It’s up to us, up to the disputing parties, up to all countries, to push all sides to agree to that peace so that we don’t get dra...

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Saturday stressed political unity in the country amid the economic crisis triggered by the US-Israeli war on Iran. He made the remarks while speaking in Garhi Khuda Bakhsh to mark the 47th death anniversary of PPP founder and former prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. “We feel that there should be consensus in Pakistan and political differences should be kept aside in order to work together,” he said. He also appreciated Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi for constructively participating in consultations held with the president and the prime minister. He thanked Afridi for participating in the meetings, and playing a “positive role” in the process. “Together, the Centre, provinces, political parties … will face these difficulties as one. If there is no division among us, there is no force in the world that can break Pakistan,” he said. In his remarks, Bilawal had also condemned the US-Israeli war on Iran, saying that the entire world, including Pakistan, was...

ISLAMABAD: PPP Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, along with other leaders from his party, called on Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman at his residence in Islamabad on Wednesday, with statements by both parties saying that political matters were discussed during the meeting. Bilawal was accompanied by PPP leaders Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, Nayyar Bukhari and Chaudhry Yasin while JUI-F’s Asad Mehmood was also present on the occasion. A source privy to the matter told Dawn the meeting focused primarily on political matters and elections in Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan. Both sides agreed to continue consultations on the matter, the source added. The meeting took place three days after the AJK Election Commission announced on Sunday that the schedule for the upcoming Legislative Assembly elections was expected to be announced in May. Meanwhile, elections in GB are also expected to be held later this year after the GB chief election commissioner announced in December last year that...

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday met with PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and discussed the evolving situation in the Gulf amid the US-Israel war on Iran and matters of national importance. During the meeting, the prime minister informed Bilawal about Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts aimed at promoting global peace in light of regional tensions.  Both leaders also exchanged views on political developments and internal security challenges facing the country. Bilawal appreciated the federal government’s policies and measures to address potential challenges arising from the ongoing conflict, praising the prime minister’s leadership during a difficult time. The two leaders also reviewed development projects being carried out by the federal government in Sindh. The meeting was also attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, Minister for Economic Affairs Ahad Khan Cheema, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, Minister for Law and Justice Azam Naz...

Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) leader Farooq Sattar on Tuesday urged PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari to seek resignations from the Sindh chief minister and the Karachi mayor. A war of words has been ongoing between MQM-P and PPP leaders in the wake of the Gul Plaza inferno, with lawmakers associated with the former party demanding that Karachi be handed over to the Centre. Addressing a press conference in Karachi, Sattar termed Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, Senior Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon and Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab — who he said were close to Bilawal — as his “three naive friends”. “What if a drop scene happens? They are making you sink in a swamp. So we, Karachi’s people, those living in Sindh’s cities, are demanding from you that all three resign,” Sattar said, referring to CM Murad, Memon and Wahab. He remarked that the three leaders had added an enormous “burden” to the PPP’s “ship that could sink it”. “Reduce this burden,” he said, urging Bilawal to demand the r...