Bilawal Bhutto meets Nawaz Sharif in London after ex-PM Khan's ouster

Chairman Pakistan People Party (PPP) Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, right, calls on Pakistan's former prime minister Nawaz Sharif in London on April 22, 2022. (Photo courtesy: social media)
Short Url
Updated 22 April 2022
Follow

Bilawal Bhutto meets Nawaz Sharif in London after ex-PM Khan's ouster

  • Sharif blames PTI administration for economic crisis, says it destroyed Pakistan's political culture
  • PPP chairman says an 'undemocratic person' was removed through constitutional means in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Chairman Pakistan People Party (PPP) Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Thursday held a meeting in London with the country's former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, congratulating him over the removal of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) administration through a no-confidence vote.

He maintained the PPP and Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party had joined forces in the past to restore democracy when the country was ruled by General (r) Pervez Musharraf.

The May 2006 Charter of Democracy was signed by the top leaders of the two parties in London which later galvanized their workers and supporters to launch a collective struggle to bring down the Musharraf regime.

"We have made history again," the PPP leader said while addressing a joint news conference with Sharif.

Referring to ex-PM Imran Khan, he said that an "undemocratic person had been imposed on Pakistan" who was removed by adopting constitutional means.

Bhutto-Zardari noted that Pakistan was "at a crossroads" and could either move toward democracy or repeat the mistakes of the past.

Sharif thanked the PPP leader for traveling to London for a meeting with him while blaming ex-PM Imran Khan and his PTI party for destroying the political culture of the country.

He also blamed the previous administration of ruining Pakistan's economy, saying "it will not be an easy task to stabilize the Pakistani rupee."

Prior to their meeting, the PPP chairman told a group of journalists at his hotel that the PTI administration had been pursuing the agenda to undo democracy in Pakistan.

 

 

"We have removed Imran Khan, but the damage he has done to democracy, economy and foreign policy persists, and we need to jointly fight against it," he said while explaining the reason behind his planned meeting with Sharif.

Asked about Pakistani state institutions which had become "controversial" in recent weeks, he said: "We managed to move away from controversial to constitutional in the past as well. That transition is once again required in the country."

The PPP chairman, who was also accompanied by his other party leaders, is likely to hold another meeting with Sharif on Friday.


Pakistan Navy rescues Sri Lankan sailor in Indian Ocean operation

Updated 5 sec ago
Follow

Pakistan Navy rescues Sri Lankan sailor in Indian Ocean operation

  • Navy evacuates critically ill crew member 1,500 kilometer off the coast
  • Rescue follows earlier Pakistan Navy relief role after Sri Lanka cyclone

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Navy said on Saturday it had carried out a long-range medical evacuation in the Indian Ocean, rescuing a critically ill Sri Lankan crew member from a foreign-flagged vessel around 1,500 kilometers off Pakistan’s coast.

The operation was launched after Sri Lanka’s Maritime Rescue Coordination Center requested urgent medical assistance for a crew member aboard MV Grey Palm, an Indonesian-flagged cargo ship operating far from land, according to a statement issued by the navy’s public relations directorate.

“Pakistan Navy Ships TABUK and MOAWIN have successfully conducted medical evacuation (MEDEVAC) of a Sri Lankan national requiring urgent medical attention ... on the high seas at 800 Nautical Miles (approximately 1500 KM) off Pakistan’s coast,” the statement said.

The navy said it deployed its ships as a first responder, evacuated the patient along with an attendant and provided immediate treatment onboard before continuing coordination with Sri Lankan authorities.

“The successful medical evacuation is yet another testament to operational readiness and long-standing commitment of Pakistan for the safety of life at sea, irrespective of nationality,” the statement added.

The rescue follows Pakistan Navy’s involvement in humanitarian operations in Sri Lanka last month after a powerful cyclone triggered flooding and landslides that killed more than 470 people, according to Sri Lankan authorities.

During that mission, Pakistani naval personnel helped evacuate a family stranded on a rooftop for several days and delivered relief supplies to affected communities.