Tariq Saeed Peshawar
Chairman Pakistan People’s Party Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Wednesday said the PPP was a staunch supporter of the strong judicial system in the country, free from any influence or pressure yet the leader of the people and the then Prime Minister of Pakistan Zulfikar Ali Bhutto had to face the consequences of flawed judicial process.
Emphasizing that seeking justice for murder was a legal right of everyone, Bilawal questioned the “statute of limitation” in hearing ZA Bhutto reference that was filed by then president Asif Ali Zardari in 2011, asking the top court to review the verdict that sentenced PPP founder and former prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto to death in 1978.
“My question of law is that can the judiciary commit a murder or become co-accused in committing a murder,” the PPP chairman asked the lawyers community while addressing the legal fraternity at Peshawar High Court Bar Association here Wednesday.
Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah, it may be recalled had on Tuesday observed that the matter pertaining to the trial of the PPP founder had attained finality as a review petition had been dismissed earlier, so how can the apex court re-open the case that has already been concluded.
Bilawal while opposing limitation to hearing the cases that are time-barred said “Seeking justice for murder is a legal right of everyone; Murder is murder, no matter how many years have passed”.
The PPP Chairman, however, hoped that as per law and Constitution, the Supreme Court will set a legacy in its order to give a roadmap for the progress and prosperity of the country and youth.
He also took a jibe at former chief justices asking what was the question of law in launching a dam fund campaign — a reference to former Chief Justice Saqib Nisar’s campaign initiated during his tenure.
“I wonder has a Chief justice the right to take steps to restore a city to its original plan by demolishing the houses of the poor,” Bilawal said in an obvious reference to the ex-chief justice Gulzar Ahmed who ordered the demolition of buildings and slum areas built illegally in Karachi Metropolitan City
“It is only the democratic system under which Pakistan could get rid of current challenging circumstance,” Bilawal said adding talks with the terrorist groups in Pakistan was a regressive step.
Bilawal said PPP has a history of serving the masses, providing relief to common man and taking incentives for the welfare of the people and the country. He said a lot of people have been benefitting from Benazir Income Support Program and now Benazir Sahulat Program in Sindh was facilitating the labourers, adding this facility would be extended to the rest of the country in future. Hospitals were providing all the medical facilities including cardio treatment to the people in Sindh. He vowed to extend the facilities to the rest of the country if voted to power in the forthcoming elections.
