News Desk |
PPP Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has said that he will support government’s overtures and positions on foreign policy irrespective of all his differences with the Prime Minister Imran Khan government.
A day after PM Khan’s meeting with US President Donald Trump at the White House, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairman said that the government has his unconditional support when it comes to engaging the global community, adding that he will continue to offer them positive criticism.
Bilawal looks towards larger politics and he knows that his grandfather Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto emerged as a leader because of his stance on foreign policy issues.
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”
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 🇵🇰 not just PTI. 1/2 #TrumpHostsKhan
— BilawalBhuttoZardari (@BBhuttoZardari) July 23, 2019
“Having said that in the greater national interest everyone should support Pakistan’s efforts to engage the world. I therefore unconditionally support governments efforts. Will always provide constructive criticism when needed but will always support 🇵🇰 [Pakistan] first,” he added.
Having said that in the greater national interest everyone should support Pakistan’s efforts to engage the world. I therefor unconditionally support governments efforts. Will always provide constructive criticism when needed but will always support 🇵🇰 first. 2/2 #TrumpHostsKhan
— BilawalBhuttoZardari (@BBhuttoZardari) July 23, 2019
On the other hand, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)’ Maryam Nawaz has so far only criticized PM Khan for various things that he has done or said during his first US visit. In a tweet, she even said that ‘Pakistan was let down’.
“Pakistan’s (foisted) representation in the Trump-Selected meeting was voiceless, timid & yielding to say the least. Pakistan was let down,” she tweeted.
Pakistan’s (foisted) representation in the Trump-Selected meeting was voiceless, timid & yielding to say the least. Pakistan was let down.
— Maryam Nawaz Sharif (@MaryamNSharif) July 23, 2019
Political observers have expressed that Bilawal, who is a graduate of Oxford, has always taken a different and balanced foreign policy position. They said that the PPP chairman stands out as a rising big voice when it comes to issuing statements and taking a firm stand on the issues related to foreign affairs.
Read more: Why is the timing of Bilawal’s press conference important?
Often, they said, Bilawal has emerged as a strong advocate for his country, adding he has shown a greater understanding of foreign policy when compared to Maryam Nawaz, the PML-N’s vice president.
A twitter user Ali Salman Alvi stated: “The difference between Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Maryam Nawaz Sharif is unbelievably palpable.”
The difference between Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Maryam Nawaz Sharif is unbelievably palpable. #IKmeetsTrump https://t.co/rVwvpWBFKv
— Ali Salman Alvi (@alisalmanalvi) July 23, 2019
Though, fathers of both the political scions of PPP and PML-N – former president Asif Ali Zardari and ex-PM Nawaz Sharif – are in jail and debate is going on in the political circles that Bilawal could be the next target of the National Accountability Bureau, yet the difference of approach between Bilawal and Maryam is poles apart when it comes to foreign policy.
Bilawal looks towards larger politics and he knows that his grandfather Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto emerged as a leader because of his stance on foreign policy issues. The young PPP leader takes a slightly different position when it comes to Pakistan’s relations with India and US and often appreciated for adopting a balanced approach.
President Trump called PM Khan as the most popular prime minister of Pakistan, adding the whole debate on the word “selected” is also over now because it has lost all meaning.
Back in January 2018, in his interview to an Indian TV channel in Davos where he defended Pakistan and the Pakistan military in its fight against terrorism when cross-questioned aggressively, Bilawal Bhutto’s response was very articulate and earned him massive applaud. In fact, he himself had enjoyed that interview and shared the link on his Twitter account.
“Enjoyed my interview with @rahulkanwal @IndiaToday. Watch to see #PPP perspective on terrorism, extremism & India/Pak relations,” he had tweeted.
Enjoyed my interview with @rahulkanwal @IndiaToday . Watch to see #PPP perspective on terrorism, extremism & India/Pak relations. #wef18 @Davos https://t.co/hLRywiNmK1
— BilawalBhuttoZardari (@BBhuttoZardari) January 27, 2018
Foreign policy experts and political analysts have said that Bilawal’s statement offering unconditional support to the government’s efforts is a smart political move, especially, after the gathering of Pakistani-Americans at the Capital One Arena in Washington and PM Khan’s successful meeting with President Trump.
The political observers who have been closely watching all the developments of premier’s visit have said that tables have turned after President Trump called PM Khan as the most popular prime minister of Pakistan, adding the whole debate on the word “selected” is also over now because it has lost all meaning.
Read more: Pakistani Americans buried Opposition’s “Selected Prime Minister”?
“#BilawalBhutto has outdone #MaryamNawaz and his elders in the party with this simple move. A very well-thought and timely taken decision since #PPP lost big time in #FATA elections and #PMImranKhan has already earned nation’s confidence for his successful #WashingtonDC meeting,” a Twitter user Amber Rawail said.
#BilawalBhutto has outdone #MaryamNawaz and his elders in the party with this simple move. A very well-thought and timely taken decision since #PPP lost big time in #FATA elections and #PMImranKhan has already earned nation's confidence for his successful #WashingtonDC meeting. https://t.co/MGaaJZltDY
— 𝐀𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐑𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐢𝐥 (@AmberRawail) July 23, 2019