ISLAMABAD: Advising the government to improve ties with the neighbouring countries, Pakistan Peoples Party chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari claimed on Wednesday that the foreign policy of the previous PPP government was much better as compared to that of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz.

Speaking at an Iftar dinner hosted by Senator Sher­­ry Rehman, he suggested that the government should concentrate on improving the relations with neighbouring countries. He said Pakistan enjoyed respect in the international community, including Muslim countries, so it should consider its status before taking decisions.

“During the tenure of former president Asif Zardari, we had better relations with Afghanistan and despite the Mumbai attack, efforts were made to normalise relations with India. We need to get united against extremism and terrorism,” he said.

The PPP chief said there was need to eradicate sectarian hatred and unite against the enemies of the country.

“We need to highlight that Malala Yousafzai and Mashal Khan (a student who was killed at Wali Khan University in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) are our heroes. The curriculum of the educational institutions should be changed,” he said.

He called for strict action against extremism and terrorism. However, he praised the government’s decision to continue the Benazir Inc­ome Support Programme.

When asked about the threats hurled on members of the joint investigation team probing the Panama Papers case, the PPP leader said the judges had the power to take notice of the issue and initiate contempt proceedings against those who had been threatening the members of the JIT.

Awami Muslim League chief Sheikh Rashid Ahmad, who was also present on the occasion, claimed that the PPP chairman had agreed to form a joint platform of the opposition against the government.

“During my meeting with Bilawal, I suggested that the opposition should get united. Elections can be contested separately but at the moment we need to get united,” he said.

Sheikh Rashid claimed that the PPP leader had agreed to the proposal and suggested that he should talk to the Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly, Syed Khursheed Shah.

Published in Dawn, June 15th, 2017