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Chairman Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, reaffirmed the founding vision of the Party – Roti, Kapra Aur Makaan, on the International Labour Day, with a conviction that the prosperity of Pakistan is interwoven with the welfare and dignity of its labor force.

According to the press release issued by the Media Cell Bilawal House, Chairman PPP, in a message on International Labour Day, paid homage to the martyrs of Chicago. He also paid glowing tribute to Quaid-e-Awam Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto for the latter’s pioneering efforts in enshrining labor rights through the first-ever Labour Policy in 1972, laying the groundwork for equitable representation and empowerment. 

He highlighted that as Prime Minister, Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto restored the trade union rights unjustly seized by a dictator from the workers. “Shaheed Bibi tirelessly endeavored to expand job opportunities for the underprivileged, fostering employment growth even during her brief tenures in government,” he pointed out. Reflecting on President Asif Ali Zardari’s previous tenure, he proudly recalled the launch of the Benazir Income Support Program (BISP) and Benazir Employees Stock Option Scheme (BESOS), a testament to the party’s unwavering commitment to fostering economic prosperity and opportunity for all.

Among the progress made by the PPP, Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari praised his party’s governments in Sindh for leading initiatives like the Labour Policy, Benazir Mazdoor Card scheme, and building flats for laborers. “The PPP continues its commitment to helping the working class with programs like the ‘Benazir Mazdoor Card’ and ‘Benazir Kisan Card’ in Sindh and Balochistan, showing its dedication to empowerment,” he affirmed.

Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari recognized the ongoing challenges faced by the labor class in Pakistan, often ignored by other political groups. He invited the hardworking people to join the PPP, a stronghold of hope and determination, committed to supporting their cause and protecting their rights. 

Looking ahead, Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari vowed to introduce the significant legislative reforms, reinforcing PPP’s commitment as a strong supporter and protector of the labor class. He promised to oppose exploitation and to remain a source of hope and unity for hardworking individuals, who are the foundation of both the Party and society.

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President Asif Ali Zardari conferred the award of Nishan-i-Imtiaz (Military) upon General Selcuk Bayraktaroglu, Commander of Turkish Land Forces, during a special investiture ceremony held at Aiwan-e-Sadr, today. He conferred the award in recognition of his services in promoting and strengthening defence relations between Pakistan and Turkiye.

Later, the visiting Commander of Turkish Land Forces, General Selcuk Bayraktaroglu, also called on the President, at Aiwan-e-Sadr, today. The meeting was also attended by the Chief of Army Staff, General Syed Asim Munir.

The meeting discussed matters pertaining to defence cooperation between the two brotherly countries. Both sides emphasised the need for further expanding bilateral ties for the mutual benefit of Pakistan and Turkiye.

Talking to the Commander of Turkish Land Forces, the President said that Pakistan was proud of its relations with Turkiye, which had always supported Pakistan on core issues. He expressed satisfaction over the collaboration between Pakistan and Turkiye on a number of projects that would further strengthen bilateral ties.

The President highlighted the need for increasing people-to-people contacts, as well as promoting cooperation in the areas of agriculture, education, art and culture to bring the people of Pakistan and Turkiye further closer. He said that President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan was a true and sincere friend of Pakistan who had made telephonic calls to him on his election as well as at the beginning of Ramzan-ul-Mubarak. This, he added, showed his commitment to broadening Pak-Turkiye ties.

Commander of Turkish Land Forces, General Selcuk Bayraktaroglu, reiterated the desire to further improve defence cooperation with Pakistan. He said that both countries could significantly contribute to the promotion of regional peace and stability.

The President congratulated the Commander of Turkish Land Forces on receiving the Nishan-i-Imtiaz (Military) and hoped that he would continue to play his role to further strengthen defence cooperation between the two brotherly countries.

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Chairman Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has extended warmest congratulations to the people of Pakistan, especially those in Sindh, and their esteemed democratic institutions on the momentous occasion of the Sindh Assembly commemorating 87 years of its parliamentary journey.

According to a press release from the Media Cell Bilawal House, Chairman PPP remarked in his message that the inaugural session of the Sindh Legislative Assembly was convened on April 27, 1937. He emphasized the enduring legacy of democratic perseverance, noting that even prior to the formation of Pakistan, our forefathers steadfastly championed democratic ideals. Highlighting the pivotal role of Sir Shahnawaz Bhutto in the inception of the first Sindh Assembly, he lamented that a conspiracy deprived him of participation in its maiden session. “Despite the concerted efforts to sideline his party, both Sir Shahnawaz Bhutto and Sir Abdullah Haroon’s party secured a majority in the Sindh Assembly. However, despite this majority, Sir Shahnawaz Bhutto’s party was denied the opportunity to form the government. Instead, the then Governor extended the invitation to a party with merely three members in the House, disregarding the mandate of the majority party,” he pointed out.

Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari reiterated that despite facing numerous conspiracies and injustices, our predecessors remained steadfast in their commitment to fortifying democratic institutions. He emphasized that the annals of his party’s history are replete with a relentless struggle to bolster democracy and its institutions, spanning from the pre-partition era to the present day.

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According to a press release from the Media Cell Bilawal House, discussions on Pakistan-Palestine relations took place during the meeting. Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, speaking at the event, reaffirmed Pakistan’s unwavering support for the Palestinian people, particularly on the issue of Gaza. He said that Israel’s actions in Gaza have created such a history of atrocities that have ashamed the humanity. Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that the Pakistani nation stands united on the issue of Palestine, and “our hearts beat with the Palestinians.”

Ambassador of Palestine Ahmed Jawad Amin Rabiei presented Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Bibi Aseefa Bhutto Zardari with commemorative photos of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto and Yasser Arafat, as well as a photo of Al-Aqsa Mosque and a commemorative shield.

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah was also present at the occasion.

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President of the Human Rights Cell, Pakistan Peoples Party, Senator Farhatullah  Babar in a statement has said that the decision to cancel the lease of a tennis club named after Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto is an evil act. 

Senator Farhatullah Babar said that for the last 10 years, international and national tournaments have been held in the Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Tennis Club. Cancellation of the lease by CDA on Friday is an attack on the institution named after the martyr, Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto. 

The CDA crew vandalised the ground located on Embassy Road today, Senator Farhatullah Babar said. The CDA staff has torn up the stay order of Islamabad High Court. Earlier, there was a conspiracy to end the Benazir Income Support Program.

The attack on the tennis ground is an act of prejudice and hatred against Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, Senator Farhatullah Babar.

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Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari responded to questions by the media representatives at the National Assembly on Friday. 

Chairman PPP said that the opposition members are afraid of Bibi Aseefa Bhutto Zardari and that is why so much noise was made by them while Bibi Aseefa was taking oath. This shows that they are afraid of a Nihatti Larki (an unarmed girl). We will never be deterred by bullying tactics as we have faced dictators like General Zia and General Musharraf for the last three generations. We will face them with democratic means. Their actions are undermining the sanctity and reverence of the parliament. 

Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that the Party has made a history yesterday when the President of Pakistan, Asif Ali Zardari addressed the parliament for the seventh time. In his address President Zardari pointed out the issues which is the need of the hours. We should think of the country instead of petty differences. We should think of Pakistan and its people. President Zardari gave a roadmap and a message to be united to deal with the issues confronting Pakistan at the moment. The representatives of the people have to play a role and fulfill the responsibility. Unfortunately, the opposition does not have interest in playing their role in the parliament. We should resolve the issues of the people but the only objective of the opposition is to get personal pollical interests and to get the relief for their party leaders. The opposition protest was not democratic and mature. Unfortunately, this behavior of the opposition members compelled the Speaker to suspend membership of two opposition members but it was necessary to set the precedent so that every member should remain within the rules of the parliament. 

Regarding a question about terrorism, Chairman PPP said Imran Khan’s government policy regarding the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, terrorism and about the neighboring country, the way that government let free the terrorists from prisons and invited the terrorists who were in Afghan prisons before the fall of Kabul to enter Pakistan were all wrong. The parliament was not taken on board and the President of the time was giving the terrorists clemency. That was the policy of Imran Khan’s government. We had criticized that policy then and now we should have a clear stance to see the issue as political but as an issue of national security. You cannot have the policy of running with the hare and hunting with the hounds. This dual policy will not work and the Army, police, common people rendered great sacrifices to eliminate these terrorists in the past.

Responding to a question regarding opposition’s hue and cry during President Zardari’s address to the joint session, Chairman PPP said that every political party has the right to do politic but on the issue of foreign affairs, diplomatic issues etc. we should have displayed unity in front of diplomats. These diplomats will tell their countries about this opposition’s behavior as well. 

Speaking about the destruction by the floods in the modern country like United Arab Emirates, Chairman Bilawal said that the climate change is increasing in its intensity with time. Pakistan is an under-developed nation and we are trying to give relief to the people with our limited resources. The floods in 2022 caused huge destruction. We are constructing 2 million houses for those flood-hit people. We have to change our development strategy for the federal and provincial governments and make the infrastructure climate resilient and climate friendly so that we can protect the coming generations and President Zardari has also given a message in this regard in his address yesterday. 

Chairman PPP said that a few decisions of the interim government harmed not only our growers but also our economy as well. The interim government decided to import wheat from other countries resulting in loss of the Pakistani growers but this government has stopped export of wheat which has resulted in improvement of the situation. He said that the reservations being expressed by the growers should be heard and allayed. This is welcome that since this government has come to power, the inflation is decreasing. During the elections, inflation was the main issue and if this government succeeds in lowering inflation then we all will benefit from it. 

Regarding recent visit of the Saudi foreign minister, Chairman Bilawal said that he thinks that it was the most successful visit. Saudi Arabia will play a major role in the investment opportunities in Pakistan. This will provide employment opportunities to people all over the country. It is the responsibility of the government and its allies and the opposition to welcome the foreign delegation. It is so wrong that when the Saudi foreign minister was in Pakistan, a PTI politician levelled false allegation on Saudi Arabia of involvement of removing Imran Khan’s government. We not only condemn that statement but also the dual politics of PTI. This two-faced politics is wrong and the PTI politicians should keep away from the politics of lies. Saudi Arabia has relations with Pakistan not with any particular political party. All political parties should own this relation. 

On the topic of reconciliation, Chairman Bilawal said that the President of Pakistan in his address to the joint session gave clear message of the need for reconciliation and unity. Our three demands are regarding national charter of economy, national charter of reconciliation and the national charter of judicial reforms which we have been raising continuously. The manner in which the PTI does its politics harms national reconciliation repeatedly which is causing harm not only to Pakistan, its economy and the PTI as well. 

Every political party should try to give relief to the people. Prime minister in this regard spoke about these issues which were the PPP point of view in his first speech. Now we have to give time to the government to implement those points in his speech. We hope that the government will provide funds for Benazir Income Support Programme so that we can give relief to the people despite several conditions by the IMF and other financial institutions. 

Chairman Bilawal appreciated Sindh police for thwarting a terror attack in Landhi, Karachi this morning. He said that this is also a reminder that the menace of terrorism is once again raising its head in Pakistan. The federal and provincial governments will have to take action against the terrorists and to ensure to engage the neighboring country to take action against them. Chairman PPP said that as a foreign minister he had held a tripartite dialogue at the foreign ministry among the foreign ministers of China, Afghanistan and Pakistan. We should have similar efforts to eliminate terrorists. 

Regarding the protest movement expected by the JUI in Sindh, Chairman Bilawal said that if he protests then we will facilitate him. Maulana sahib is a senior politician given wrong impression by his people that they lost the elections through rigging. He should have investigation that whether there was rigging or his own people are giving this wrong impression to hide their own weaknesses. Maulana sahib should have protest against Gandapur in Dera Ismail Khan, protest in Peshawar and other parts of KP province. Does he think that rigging was done in Larkana and fair and transparent elections were held in KP?

Chairman Pakistan Peoples Party, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari condemned the killing of 6 people including 4 custom officials in Saggu area of Dera Ismail Khan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Chairman Bilawal said that this killing of innocent citizens is an unfortunate and unforgettable event.  “The perpetrators of the Dera Ismail Khan incident should be brought to justice,” Bilawal Bhutto Zardari demanded. He expressed sympathy and condolences to the families of those who were martyred in the Dera Ismail Khan incident.

Bilawal Bhutto Zardari also offered prayers for the departed souls.

Islamabad, 18 April 2024

Bism-illah-ir-Rehman-ir-Raheem

Chairman Senate, Syed Yousuf Raza Gillani,

Speaker of the National Assembly, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq,

Prime Minister of Pakistan, Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif,

Members of the Parliament,

Distinguished Guests,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Assalam-o-Alaikum!

As we embark upon the 1st Parliamentary year, let me extend my heartfelt congratulations to all honourable members of Parliament on their election to this august House. I would also like to compliment the Prime Minister, and both federal and provincial governments on their election victories, and assumption of their responsibilities.

Let me also take this opportunity to express my sincerest gratitude to all Parliamentarians and provincial assembly members for their trust and confidence in electing me for a second time as the President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. I am humbled by this opportunity bestowed upon me by the grace of Allah Almighty.

Mr Speaker, let me begin this parliamentary year by sharing briefly my vision for the future because much of it is based on the choices we make. In my particular role in the past too, I have made important choices that made history when I chose to give away my own powers, as President, to the parliament of Pakistan.

I expect you as parliamentarians to use those powers with the wisdom and maturity our country merits and needs.

I see my own role today as a unifying symbol of a joint, robust federation, where all people and provinces should be treated as equal before the law.

At the same time, in my considered view, it is time to turn a new page.

If we see today as a new beginning, which it is, then we can build on our strengths by investing in our people, by focusing on public needs, and by harnessing our resources to create pathways to inclusive growth.

I also feel that we have little time to waste. The country needs us to move on from the polarization so common now to contemporary politics.

This joint House must play a leading role in rebuilding public confidence in the parliamentary process and establish a foundation for the uninterrupted sustainable development of our nation.

Let us not confuse constructive disagreement and the healthy noise of a growing democracy with the pursuit of zero-sum thinking.

The country needs us to take pause and reflect on what we prioritise in our goals, our narratives and our agendas.

I believe we can reset the political atmosphere to reflect more light than heat if we really want to, but it will need all of us to step back and decide what matters the most, and I mean all of us. At the end of the day, it is up to all of us to turn challenges into opportunities, because that is what robust nations do. 

I have always drawn inspiration and guidance from great leaders such as Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, and Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, who spent their lives being advocates for democracy, tolerance, and social justice.

I firmly believe that by embracing the vision of these leaders, we can effectively tackle our challenges and foster an atmosphere of mutual respect and political reconciliation.

The challenges we face are not impossible to overcome. They just require the fundamentals of meaningful dialogue, parliamentary consensus and a time-lined implementation of rigorous reforms aimed at addressing the underlying issues, both old and new, confronting us.  I strongly believe that in order to align our country with the 21st century, it is imperative that we move forward on reforms to promote good governance for the provision of optimal social entitlements to our citizens.

Let’s begin with a vision that strives to leave no one behind. For this thought to move beyond an idea, the political leadership gathered in this house must prioritise the specific needs of marginalized communities and underdeveloped areas.

By focusing on the needs of these regions, we can bridge the gap between them and the more developed areas of the country, moving the needle towards an inclusive growth model that emphasizes equality of opportunity.

While there are many economic reforms the government will drive in spurring jobs, reducing inflation and expanding the tax net, I want to underscore the importance of promoting positive working relationships and effective coordination, within our Constitutional framework, between the Federal Government and the Provinces. This is absolutely essential for promoting an inclusive national development agenda and rolling out policies that execute tangible action on the ground.

I firmly believe that by driving seamless collaboration and fostering institutional coordination with intention and regularity, we can harness the full potential of our federal system to deliver positive change for the benefit of the people of Pakistan.

Mr. Speaker,

Honourable Members of the Parliament,

Pakistan needs all hands on deck to revitalize its economy. Without shedding all caution to the winds, our primary objective should be to attract foreign direct investment.

I, therefore, urge the government to intensify its efforts in implementing comprehensive ease-of-doing-business reforms and simplifying the existing forest of regulations to provide an enabling environment for both foreign and domestic investors.

I commend the establishment of the Special Investment Facilitation Council aimed at attracting and facilitating investments in key sectors, which is a step forward in the right direction.

At the same time, we must accelerate our endeavours to diversify exports, enhance the competitiveness of our products in global markets, introduce value addition, and venture into new markets. Similarly, the huge, untapped potential in the Agriculture, Marine life, Information Technology and Textile sectors should be exploited to earn foreign exchange.

Any global or national stocktake will tell us that the world is changing fast under our very feet. Pakistan has been serially devastated by different impacts of climate change, especially in the shape of catastrophic floods in 2022. We urgently need to invest in climate-friendly and climate-resilient infrastructure to mitigate the rapidly compounding risks of climate change.

At the same time, we need to ensure that clean energy technologies form the core component of our national energy mix as they would not only create opportunities for green economic growth but would also make energy more affordable for our people.

Mr. Speaker,

The provision of primary & secondary education is a fundamental right, and its current state should keep all governments awake at night.

We must acknowledge the fact that in Pakistan there is a massive number of children who are out of school, and given our growing population, that number is growing faster than the facilities we have been providing.

I, therefore, urge all provincial governments to bring focus and energy on transformative reforms in the education sector, not just on improving access to primary and secondary education for all children, but for ensuring quality as well.

Mr Speaker,

Respected Parliamentarians,

I am sure you all agree that our health sector is in urgent need of rebuilding and scaled-up expansion.

Regular investments in the primary and secondary health infrastructure, as well as human resources, are needed to ensure that every citizen has access to quality healthcare services and that no citizen lacks medical care.

Mr Speaker, a combination of factors has come together to create what I see as a crisis of income and food insecurity for many of our people. I am pointing of course, to the large number of our population that has been slipping into poverty, either through climate impacts on their incomes and assets, or sheer cost-of-living pressures on their families.

It is our responsibility to ensure that they move out of extreme vulnerability, with the ability to access opportunities for jobs, and resources to reinvest in farms, livestock and small businesses.

I am proud to say that I come from a political background that has a rich legacy of empowering and protecting all those at the bottom of the social pyramid, including women.

Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto was a champion for women’s rights and always went an extra mile in advancing women’s causes, just as she sought entitlements for the economically and socially vulnerable groups of Pakistan.  

I am very proud of the fact that the Benazir Income Support Program has been providing a lifeline to millions of vulnerable women across the country, offering them financial assistance and social protection, while giving many women the incentive and seed capital to start up small businesses.

I am glad that the number of beneficiaries of this poverty alleviation program has risen to over 9 million but we need to bring more underprivileged women into this social safety net. I am hopeful that the new government will actively work to reduce social and economic fragility while aggressively promoting girls’ education and health, including programs to reduce maternal mortality and enhance mother and child nutrition.

Mr. Speaker,

You are aware that the menace of terrorism is again rearing its ugly head and is threatening our nation’s security as well as regional peace and prosperity. Pakistan believes that terrorism is a shared concern     that requires collective efforts. We expect neighbouring countries to take strong notice of terrorist groups who are involved in launching attacks against our security forces and people.

Today, I reaffirm the nation’s resolve to eliminate terrorist elements. My late wife, the twice-elected Prime Minister of Pakistan, Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Shaheed, gave her life standing up to terrorists, so you will never find me wanting in building the unity and momentum behind such an effort.

We are proud of our Armed Forces and Law Enforcement Agencies who have rendered immense sacrifices and played a heroic role in the fight against terrorism and defence of our national frontiers.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank our friendly countries, particularly Saudi Arabia, UAE, China, Turkiye, and Qatar, who have always supported Pakistan in difficult times.

It is important also to recognise that the US, EU and UK have all been established trade partners, with a history of cooperation in many sectors, which we hope will grow further. 

I extend my heartfelt gratitude to China for its unwavering support to Pakistan in various fields.

The enduring strategic and all-weather friendship between Pakistan and China is a cornerstone of stability in the region. We remain steadfast in our commitment to collaborating with China to advance our shared goals of fostering regional peace, promoting connectivity, ensuring prosperity, and maintaining stability, which includes the completion of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. We will not allow hostile elements to jeopardize this vital project or undermine the strong bond between our two nations and will take all necessary measures to ensure the security of our Chinese brothers and sisters.

Before I conclude, I must remind the world of the unsung sacrifices of our Kashmiri brethren in their ongoing struggle for the freedom of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu & Kashmir.

The revocation of Articles 370 and 35A is part of India’s strategy to reduce Kashmiri Muslims to a minority in their own homeland. Pakistan rejects the one-sided Indian actions and calls upon India to reverse all illegal measures taken on or after 5 August 2019.

I assure our Kashmiri brothers and sisters that Pakistan will continue to provide moral, political and diplomatic support to the people of occupied Kashmir until they get their right to self-determination.

Pakistan believes that the key to durable peace in South Asia is the resolution of the dispute in accordance with the United Nations Security Council Resolutions.

Similarly, we are deeply concerned over the tidal wave of indiscriminate killings of innocent Palestinians and large-scale genocide committed by the Israeli Forces. Pakistan strongly condemns the brutality and impunity of the occupation forces and remains steadfast in its principled support for the establishment of an independent and viable state of Palestine, based on the pre-1967 borders, with Al-Kuds Al-Sharif as its capital.

Mr Speaker,

Honourable Parliamentarians!

I have complete faith in the capability of our political leadership, public institutions, civil society and youth, to successfully overcome the multiple challenges facing our nation today.

This is based on my unshakeable belief in the resilience of our people, knowing that whenever we unite to make common cause, we deliver on our promises. Today too, I believe we can pull together to draw on our moral and political capital in steering our country out of its complex but not impossible, social, climate and economic challenges.

Once again let me entreat you all to think of this great country as your driving motivation for service in these Houses of Parliament. Let us demonstrate in spirit and word a renewed political ethos of collaboration and consensus-building as the guiding principles to lay the groundwork for a more prosperous Pakistan.

I am certain that together, in a fresh start, we can chart a course towards a strong and prosperous Pakistan.

May Allah be our guide and supporter in this journey. Ameen!

Pakistan Paindabad!

Society’s attitude towards persons with disabilities deplored

Any talk about protecting persons with disabilities is meaningless unless rules are framed for putting into operation the laws for the protection of disabled persons already made by the federal parliament and by the provinces.

Addressing a seminar organized in Islamabad today PPP human rights cell president senator Farhatullah Babar said that excepting Sindh neither any province nor the federal government had been framed rules.

He said that in a security driven state fundamental rights and freedoms take a back seat and the bureaucracy feels any urgency to operationalise the laws relating to human rights and welfare of people.

Another challenge is the societal attitude. This attitude is reflected in the statement of a provincial minister in Punjab sometime back that disabled children are the wrath of God to punish parents for their wrongdoings.

This insensitivity of the society is a reason that rights and welfare of the PWDs does not attract the attention of policy makers and no tools are provided to make persons with disabilities economically or politically empowered.

Those insensitive towards the disabled must remember that disability is not a permanent feature and it can afflict anyone at anytime

He said that a disabled women senator recently complained that she was not invited even once to the Parliament’s Women Caucus during the last 6 years of its existence. At the country’s airports we often see healthy people take to wheel chairs to bypass the queue.

Farhatullah Babar said that only families’ support persons with disabilities but the element of state and society support to their needs is missing in the narrative.

There is a need for data collection, political empowerment, inclusive education with focus on girls, provision of jobs and accessible services for disabled persons in accordance with the international commitments of Pakistan.

Rehabilitation and economic empowerment of PWDs is also critical for Pakistan to continue to benefit from the GSP plus status for competitive exports to the EU countries, he said.

He stressed the need for availability of Braille computers, simplifying the cumbersome procedure for acquiring disability certificates and implementation of the job quota for the disabled.

Census data about the number and type of disabilities and credible answers must be provided to discrepancies in the data. He proposed that disabled women should be automatically registered as BISP beneficiaries and not forced to shuttle from office to office..

He said the issues involved were of deep concern to over 35 million people with functional difficulties and to integrate them into the society as a productive force and to mainstream them.

Islamabad April 4, 2024: President human rights cell of PPP ex Senator Farhatullah Babar has said that the recent awakening of judiciary has provided a historic opportunity to political parties to take the bull by the horns in securing freedom of politics, parliament, judiciary and media from the invisible forces in a hybrid model of governance.

He said this while speaking at a seminar organized by Shaheed Bhutto Foundation in Islamabad to mark the anniversary of the 1979 execution of the Party’s founder Chairman Zulfikar Ali Bhutto in Islamabad today.

The historic March 6 ruling after forty four years of the murder of Shaheed Bhutto and the letter by 6 IHC judges marked not only an attempt to jettison its past but also a course correction by the Judiciary. It is also an opportunity to politicians, the generals , media and the people to correct their course, he said. 

“The course correction for the generals is to stop dabbling in politics, for the politicians to stop leaning on generals and to depend on the people and respect their vote. For the media the course correction is to avoid partisanship in political battles and becoming a tool of anyone in the so called 5-G war. For the judges course correction is to interpret the constitution and not rewrite it”

He said that the political situation in the country however is disappointing as the politicians did not appear to be on the course correction path.

From political parties awarding senate tickets to independents wired to mysterious backers, formalizing the hybrid through bodies like SIFC and not investigating the mysterious attempt to amend the IRSA ordinance and thus change the Indus delta landscape it appeared that political parties have yet to undertake any meaningful course correction.

He also called for implementation of the 2019 verdict in the Faizbad dharna case and the 2012 verdict in the Asghar Khan case to hold accountable those who violated their oath. Keeping silent will not help. After the judiciary embarking on course correction we must ensure that those who violated the oath are punished as ordered in the court verdicts. Punished they must be even if the punishment is symbolic in nature, he said 

As long as the parliament, political parties, media and judges are amenable to manipulation and as long as the people are not the real sovereigns there will be no real democracy and no real freedom in the country, he said.

Former Governor KPK Barrister Masood Kausar, former secretary Election Commission Kanwar Dilshad, Zafarullah Khan ex Executive director PIPS, Nargis Faiz Malik MPA, Prof Tahir Malik and Asif Khan CE Bhutto Foundation also addressed the seminar.