Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has said that he opted out of the Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP), reconstituted after the enactment of the 26th Constitutional Amendment, following the PML-N-led government’s “failure to fulfil its promise” to ensure equal representation in the top judicial body.
Bilawal stated there was an understanding for mutual consultation on the PSDP, but while he was engaged in 26th Amendment, the government approved new canal projects without discussion.
Bilawal expressed disagreement with these new projects, criticising the government’s approach as flawed and vowing to inform the PPP’s CEC about the ground realities.
He emphasised the importance of consensus and comprehensive consultation in legislation, highlighting the unfair practice of presenting bills before sharing their copies with him.
Bilawal also condemned a lack of respect and partnership shown by the federal government.
Discussing Pakistan’s relations with the US, he noted that there was limited diplomatic influence through personal ties and country’s geopolitical interests are paramount. He said his family had acquaintance with Trump before he was president.
He said Pakistan and US were currently not having best of ties and the situation had been so for quite some time.
He said President Zardari had multiple fractures and he was recovering but complete recovery would take time.
Bilawal berated the government for clamping down on VPNs saying his party was not consulted on it either. He said those blocking the facility had no idea about its significance.
Had the government consulted PPP on the issue, he said the party would have apprised them of the importance of agriculture and technology. He said the government had no idea about these sectors which could boost economy.
The PPP leader said the government lied about providing 4G service to people. “There is 3G service in the country and the internet speed has been throttled,” he added.
“However, the majority decided against it and was of the view that the chief justice and head of the constitutional bench should be non-controversial,” he added.
Without divulging details, he said some judges had become habitual of politicking from the bench.
“They do not speak through their orders but give political statements. They do not rule in line with the Constitution and bend it for political purposes to grant themselves the executive powers,” he said. Given the history, he said, they decided to introduce the amendment.
Bilawal regretted that two separate systems cannot exist in the country simultaneously. “Such indifference is not appropriate.” However, he hoped that the decision could be changed in the upcoming meeting of the judicial commission.
‘Judicial reforms’
When asked about the judicial reforms, the PPP chairman said reform is always an ongoing process and the 26th Amendment was the beginning of it.
However, he said, the struggle will remain uncompleted until the reforms are implemented in the lower or provincial judiciary.
“I have requested the Sindh chief minister to approach the chief justice of Pakistan (CJP), senior puisine judge, constitutional bench head, and Sindh chief justice and seek guidance for bringing reforms in the lower judiciary,” he said.
“We believe that the masses interact more with the lower judiciary,” he said, adding that they want to work on these reforms with judicial and legal input and consensus.
‘Estrangement with govt’
Responding to a question, he said “estrangement” with the federal government is out of question. “Right now, the respect is not being given in Centre and also no politics is being played,” he said.
“We are sitting at treasury benches to provide moral support to the government,” he said, adding that his party never negotiate on every point “in good faith”. However, he said, they want the agreement to be implemented.
“We would also feel disrespected, when a legislation is approved by the cabinet and tabled on the floor, and then a copy is being presented to us.”
Responding to a question regarding the announcement of more canals being constructed on Indus River, Bilawal said it was another example of a violation of agreement reached between the PPP and the PML-N.
“In that agreement, we concurred that the PPP and PML-N would chalk out the PSDP of all four provinces, in collaboration,” he said.
The former foreign minister noted that the canal project was greenlighted when he was busy with the 26th Constitutional Amendment. “The approval was given behind our back despite on-record reservations from the PPP members.”
‘VPN restriction’
In response to a question regarding the restrictions on Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), he remarked neither the decision-makers use the internet nor do they know how to use it or the VPNs.
“It does not make any difference to decision makers that their internet speed is 3G, 4G or 5G,” he said, noting that the government did not consult the PPP in this regard.
“Two sectors, agriculture and technology, can play a massive role in Pakistan’s economy, including exports and financial growth,” he said, regretting that the government was making such policies which are causing damage to these sectors.
He pointed out that there are ways to secure the internet and police the “undesirable activity” on social media.
“Times have change. There was a time when the government needed to build infrastructure, roads, buildings and bridges. But now the infrastructure means to provide internet connectivity and enhance its speed so that the masses can play their role in this new economic space.”
He also claimed that Pakistan’s internet speed is not 4G, it’s 3G. On the other hand, he said, the authorities have slowed down its speed similar to what it was in the 90s.
It is pertinent to mention here that the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) began the process of blocking unregistered Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) in the country, as part of its efforts to “regulate internet security and ensure the safety of users”.
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