Islamabad (Web Desk/Agencies): Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Thursday called for national unity and political consensus to address the growing threat of terrorism in the country.
Speaking on the floor of the National Assembly, he pointed out the immense sacrifices made by every segment of society, from political leaders and military personnel to ordinary citizens and police officers, in the ongoing fight against terrorism.
“There is no section of society that has not made sacrifices in this struggle,” he said.
He reminded the House of the unity shown by the nation following the tragic 2014 Army Public School (APS) attack in Peshawar.
“Despite our political differences, whether it was the politics of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) or other parties, we set aside our agendas to prioritize the national interest,” Bilawal recalled. “We endorsed the National Action Plan (NAP), fought terrorism in all four provinces, and declared that we had broken the terrorists’ back.”
However, Bilawal expressed concern that the country was now facing an even more dangerous phase, pointing out the lack of unity and political consensus that had once contributed to the nation’s success.
“Today, we are passing through an even more dangerous phase than before. Unlike in the past, we lack the unity and political consensus that made us successful,” he said.
He warned that enemies of Pakistan were taking advantage of this lack of unity, with terrorists seeking to destabilize the country. He explained that these terrorists had “no ideology” and their sole goal was to disrupt Pakistan and target innocent civilians.
Bilawal also reminded the House that the PPP had consistently opposed terrorism in all its forms, whether it was religious extremism or political violence.
The PPP chief emphasized that the party had not only opposed terrorism but had also paid a heavy price because of it. Reflecting on the aftermath of Benazir Bhutto’s assassination, Bilawal recalled that the country faced a renewed wave of terrorism that spread across all provinces.
He praised the resilience and unity of the Pakistani people in overcoming this threat. “What the world could not achieve in Afghanistan, the people of Pakistan—its citizens, police, and armed forces—made possible,” he said.
“We defeated terrorism together and set Pakistan back on the path of progress,” Bilawal said.
The PPP chief condemned the recent terrorist attacks, particularly in Balochistan, asserting that the perpetrators aimed to destabilize Pakistan and halt its development.
He pointed out that these terrorists, who claimed to fight for rights and independence, were in fact obstructing Pakistan’s growth and aligning with international forces bent on destruction.
The PPP chief questioned the motives behind attacks on innocent civilians, particularly referencing the recent tragedy involving passengers on the Jaffar Express. “What was the fault of those innocent people martyred on that train?
What was their connection to regional politics or Pakistan’s governance system? They were ordinary citizens, brutally killed by terrorists,” Bilawal lamented.
Calling for political unity, Bilawal proposed a single-point agenda focused on defeating terrorism.
“While we may continue our politics on other matters, let us at least agree that the enemies of our people—the terrorists from Kurram to Gwadar—must be confronted with collective resolve,” he urged, emphasizing that the terrorists were playing with the blood of citizens and the country must unite to stop them.
Bilawal acknowledged the efforts of the federal government and provincial leaderships in combating terrorism and expressed his readiness to support the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government, despite past criticisms.
“I commend our Defence Minister for recognizing the role of the Chief Minister of Balochistan,” he said, adding, “Despite my criticism of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government, I am ready to support them if they need assistance in fulfilling their responsibilities.”
Bilawal also called for collaboration among all stakeholders, offering the PPP’s cooperation in the fight against terrorism.
“If there are shortcomings in our provincial governments or leadership, tell us—we are ready to join hands and fight this menace together,” he said.
The PPP chief reminded the House of past instances where political cooperation had been achieved, saying, “We did it before when Nawaz Sharif was Prime Minister, and we can do it again under Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.”
The PPP chairman further called for the revival of the National Action Plan (NAP).
He said that is no reason why Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif cannot reinitiate a comprehensive National Action Plan, as we did in the past.
“Mere meetings are not enough. We need decisive action, unity, and consensus—just as we demonstrated when the PPP was in power,” Bilawal said.