Bilawal credits PPP for averting emergency

"I understand that the federal government had made up its mind and was ready to immediately impose emergency in Pakhtunkhwa and implement governor's rule," he said.

He said the PPP believed that before using such "an atomic bomb" and imposing emergency, political parties should make a comprehensive effort to find a political solution that would enable them to fight terrorism "in a better way".

Bilawal said terrorism should not be treated as a political issue but as a national one, adding that the government and opposition should work together to counter the threat. "We don't want terrorism to be seen as a political issue.

We want it to be seen as a national issue," he said. "Whether you are in the opposition or in the government, we want you to fight it together.

"He said the PPP, the federal government and President Asif Ali Zardari had remained in contact over the past few weeks as terrorist attacks continued in K-P and attacks from Afghanistan also increased.

He also referred to what he described as the role of India in the attacks, saying: "Whether these two attacks are of terrorism or of Afghanistan, whatever is happening, the hand of India behind it is also not a hidden thing.

"Bilawal said the PPP wanted political parties to engage with the PTI and persuade it to end its planned long march on Islamabad.

He said the PTI had the right to protest and had achieved a degree of political success through its protest, but it should also recognise the worsening security situation in K-P."While you are focusing on your politics, you are focusing on your protest, terrorism is taking place in Pakhtunkhwa every other day," he said.

The PPP chairman said a formal written agreement should be reached between the PTI and the federal government under which both sides would work together to fight terrorism. "If there is a political issue, you should keep it away from terrorism and national interests," he said, adding that political differences should be dealt with separately from the security situation.

His remarks came a day after the government and opposition held their first formal talks in years, with the two sides agreeing to continue negotiations on Saturday.

The ruling coalition had decided to engage the opposition instead of immediately resorting to emergency or governor's rule in K-P.Bilawal said the PPP wanted all political parties to reach an "amicable political solution" in the interest of the provinces and people of Pakistan so that the country did not have to resort to emergency measures to fight terrorism.

"Terrorism is the red line of the Pakistan People's Party," he said, adding that the party had lost workers and leaders to terrorism. He warned that continued deterioration in Balochistan and K-P could have consequences beyond the two provinces, particularly for Karachi.

"Karachi is a mini Pakistan. We are connected to every city, every province," he said. "If Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa gets sick, Karachi gets a cough.

"Bilawal said the PPP considered terrorism a major issue because any deterioration in the security situation in Balochistan and K-P would eventually affect other parts of the country. Earlier in his address, the PPP chairman spoke at length about issues confronting Karachi, saying the city had been treated unfairly by the federal government despite its contribution to the national economy.

He said Karachi continued to face shortages of water, electricity and gas, despite Sindh being a major gas-producing province. "Your Constitution says that the first right is theirs, where this resource is produced," he said, referring to the province's claim to its share of natural gas.

He also criticised the federal government over the K-IV water project, saying the Centre had failed to fulfil its commitment to contribute 50 per cent of the project's cost. Bilawal said the Sindh government, Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab and the public-private partnership model had provided a way forward for the project.

He also criticised delays in the Hyderabad-Sukkur motorway, saying completion of the project would benefit Karachi and Pakistan's wider economy. The PPP chairman praised Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, the Karachi mayor and local representatives for working on the city's water problems.

"We will continue to listen to all their complaints and criticisms. We will continue to do our work," he said.