LAHORE: PPP Punjab Assembly parliamentary leader Hasan Murtaza has asked the PML-N leadership to take notice of Talal Chaudhry’s taunt to Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, saying the former minister is trying to create differences among the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) parties.

“In order to please his old masters, PML-N leader Talal Chaudhry is trying to create differences in the PDM. Talal should have given a statement according to his political stature,” Mr Murtaza said here on Saturday.

He said Bilawal had saved the PML-N from heading into a blind alley. All political workers should respect the leadership of other parties,” he said and urged the PML-N to take notice of Chaudhry’s uncalled-for remarks about the PPP chairman. Murtaza said unity among the PDM parties was a key to success of its movement.

Mr Chaudhry, after the Senate chairman election, had taunted Bilawal for acknowledging the so-called “neutrality” of state institutions. While the PML-N was pointing fingers at the establishment before the Senate chairman and deputy chairman polls, the PPP was of the view that it was not interfering in the process and was neutral.

Reacting to Chaudhry’s tweet, Bilawal had said he was not doing any “tanzeem saazi” (party organization). Prime Minister Imran Khan had used this term sarcastically when Chaudhry was allegedly beaten up by the brothers of a woman lawmaker outside her home last year. He had claimed that he had gone to the lawmaker’s house for “tanzeem saazi” (party organisation).

“Talal sahib... what was that, oh yes, tanzeem saazi. No, we are not doing any tanzeem saazi here. We are waging a struggle for democracy,” Bilawal said during a press conference in Islamabad on Friday.

He further said that his family had been fighting for democracy for three generations. “Neutrality cannot be achieved overnight. The PDM’s struggle is to make every institution neutral.”

Published in Dawn, March 14th, 2021