LARKANA: Referring to the transfer of the fake bank accounts case from a banking court in Karachi to the accountability court of Rawalpindi, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has raised the issue of jurisdiction while saying “we are ready to face any challenge”.

Addressing a press conference here on Tuesday, he said the law permitted the trial of a case where the crime was committed, but “only for the Bhuttos, trials are conducted in Rawalpindi”.

The PPP leader alleged that political engineering was being carried out in the name of accountability and hinted at devising a strategy if things did not go in accordance with the law.

Accompanied by Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah and provincial PPP president Nisar Khuhro, he said no remarkable protest had been held for the past 10 years and he wanted to register strong protest for justice.

He said ‘fake’ news about the arrest of Awais Muzaffar Tappi was intentionally circulated when “the bomb of oil price hike was dropped on the people”.

Mr Bhutto-Zardari said attempts had always been made to hush up the voice of poor, democratic and progressive people.

He claimed that the federal finance minister was asked to give a briefing on agriculture at a meeting of the cabinet, but he said he had no knowledge about the subject. “This is the status of today’s rulers and this is why we are witnessing the deteriorating condition of the agriculture sector and the plight of poor haris.”

Replying to a question, he said the PPP did not intend to launch an anti-government campaign along with other political parties. However, he did not rule out the possibility of meeting any politician in the near future, though he had yet not planned to meet Nawaz Sharif. With the help of “contacts” with other leaders, a good strategy could be devised, he added.

Earlier, Mr Bhutto-Zardari inaugurated a branch of the National Institute of Cardio Vascular Diseases.

Published in Dawn, April 3rd, 2019