Bilawal warns of ‘face-off’ in country if amendments not passed before Oct 25

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto while talking to journalists during a meeting with Supreme Court Press Association’s delegation on October 2, warned of a “face-off like situation” in the country if the constitutional amendments were not passed before October 25.

It should be highlighted that Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa is set to retire on October 25 this year.

Bilawal has been at the forefront of campaigning for the coalition government’s decision to pass the constitutional amendments ever since it failed to do so last month.

Last month, the government remained unsuccessful in convincing JUI-F Chief Maulana Fazl ur Rehman as opposition and government leaders raced to woo him.

“The matter will be resolved peacefully if the amendment is passed before October 25. Otherwise, the situation could lead to confrontation,” warned Bilawal.

He reiterated the PPP’s goal to establish a constitutional court – a goal set in the Charter of Democracy signed by the slain former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif in 2006.

Bilawal blamed the judiciary for being biased and political, questioning the top court’s reserved seats verdict.

Interestingly, he also stated that when Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar apprised the SC judges of judicial reforms, then “they [SC Judges] instantly announced the verdict in the reserved seats case which is direct interference.”

Meanwhile, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI) leader Senator Kamran Murtaza told Geo News that he won’t cooperate with anyone under threat of bloodshed and pressure, in reference to Bilawal’s statement.