PPP chief says it is indispensable to establish consensus on national issues
\n Islamabad
\nPakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Monday called upon the incumbent government to take on board all political parties, including those that skipped the high-level moot on national security, to counter rising incidents of terrorism.
\n\u201cPrime Minister Shehbaz Sharif should convene another meeting, even if after a month\u2026 We hope to build a national consensus to combat terrorism,\u201d he said while addressing a ceremony at Governor House Lahore.
\nThe in-camera national security meeting was held as the country struggles with a new wave of terrorism, with security forces and law enforcement agencies facing increasingly frequent attacks.
\nThe meeting was attended by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir, Director General Inter-Services Intelligence (DG ISI) Lieutenant General Asim Malik, chief ministers of all four provinces, and other top officials.
\nThe major opposition alliance, Tehreek Tahaffuz-i-Ayeen Pakistan (TTAP), chose not to attend the meeting, citing the absence of PTI founder Imran Khan, who is incarcerated in Rawalpindi\u2019s Adiala jail.
\nThe meeting came against the backdrop of rising terrorism in Pakistan, including a major terrorist attack on a passenger train in the Mushqaf area of the Bolan district in Balochistan.
\nAddressing the ceremony, the PPP chairman noted that special attention must be given to law and order in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. \u201cIt is indispensable to establish consensus on national issues.\u201d
\nHe noted that they must unite to fight terrorists, adding that all political stakeholders must come together for the country and nation instead of personal interests.
\n\u201cThere is division in our politics\u2026 building consensus on national issues has become difficult,\u201d he regretted.
\nThe PPP scion reiterated that Pakistan is once again facing global conspiracies and must stand firm against them. He highlighted the ongoing security concerns, stating that the country is dealing with serious difficulties due to terrorism.
\nHe urged political parties to set aside their differences and unite for the greater good of the nation. Bilawal also invited the opposition to move beyond \u201cnarrow-minded politics\u201d and focus on public welfare instead.
\nThe PPP chief assured that efforts would be made to find solutions to the prevailing challenges. He reaffirmed his commitment to combating terrorism, vowing to confront both terrorists and their facilitators.
\nBilawal said he informed the prime minister that the PPP is ready to play its role in facilitating dialogue among political parties, stressing the importance of collective decision-making.
\nAddressing the Leader of the Opposition Omar Ayub, he said that his party might have numerous grievances but tends to focus on a single issue. \u201cThe people of Pakistan face multiple challenges beyond just political disputes, including terrorism, economic instability, and internal issues.\u201d
\nHe urged the opposition to prioritise national issues over seeking relief for political leadership.
\nThe former foreign minister also clarified that the PPP is neither part of the government nor the opposition. However, he stated that the PPP remains open to dialogue with the government to facilitate constructive discussions.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
PPP chief says it is indispensable to establish consensus on national issues Islamabad Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Monday called upon the incumbent government to take on board all political parties, including those that skipped the high-level moot on national security, to counter rising incidents of terrorism. \u201cPrime Minister Shehbaz Sharif should […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":468948,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-468937","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-top-news"},"yoast_head":"\n