Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairman and former foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has stated that he will not assume the role of the country's top diplomat under Nawaz Sharif's leadership if the ex-prime minister returns to power in the upcoming election on Thursday.
In an interview with Independent Urdu, the 35-year-old Bilawal, son of the slain former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, who served as the country's youngest foreign minister in 2022, expressed reluctance to collaborate with the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party if it secures victory. He emphasized that he would not become foreign minister under Nawaz Sharif unless there is a departure from the "same old politics" and the creation of an environment beneficial for democracy in the country.
Bilawal criticized both major political parties, except the PPP, for engaging in a politics of hatred and division. He likened the situation to choosing between the "devil and the deep blue sea" and expressed hope that the PPP could form the government independently.
In another interview with Voice of America Urdu, Bilawal clarified that the PPP is not seeking an electoral alliance with any party and is contesting the elections based on its manifesto. He expressed optimism for political stability in the country and a positive direction for Pakistan.
Earlier, Bilawal had criticized Nawaz Sharif for giving the impression of pre-decided election results and accused him of insufficient campaigning. Nawaz Sharif, a three-time former prime minister, is seeking a return to power in the February 8 elections.
The elections involve 336 seats in the National Assembly, the lower house of Parliament, along with four provincial assemblies. Approximately 18,000 candidates are competing for seats in the National Assembly and the provincial assemblies of Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Balochistan.
(With Agency Inputs)
