PPP Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari highlighted on Sunday the significance of the politics of reconciliation, saying that the ruling party and its allies, as well as the opposition would have to play their role in this regard.

Bilawal expressed these views while speaking to the media at the inauguration ceremony of the Sindh Institute of Child Health and Neonatology in Larkana.

He recalled that former prime minister Benazir Bhutto had given the message of “truth and reconciliation” and “reconciliation in politics”.

Linking it with the country’s progress and economic prosperity, he said the ruling party and its allies would have to play their part for this while the opposition would also have to play a “responsible role”.

“If stringent [measures] are taken in response to the politics of extremism, then there should be no complaints,” he remarked, quoting English idiom “if you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen”.

He added that “if you (the PTI) attack a national institution just because of a small NAB (National Accountability Bureau) against your leader and because of a small arrest, then don’t complain. Action will be taken against you in accordance with the law and Constitution”.

Bilawal maintained had there been PPP in PTI’s place, the consequences it would have had to face would have been more severe.

He advised the PTI to let go of the “politics of extremism”, saying that it would not be better for the party itself and its works, but it would also have a positive impact on the country’s politics.

The PP chairperson then went on to say that while Benazir’s philosophy was that of the politics of reconciliation, but President Asif Ali Zardari had played the “biggest role” in its implementation.

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