Bilawal advocates for legal clarity in Zulfikar Ali Bhutto reference hearing

Bilawal Bhutto advocates for legal clarity in Zulfikar Ali Bhutto reference hearing.

In a thought-provoking session at the Peshawar High Court Bar Association, Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari engaged in a discourse on the Zulfikar Ali Bhutto reference, addressing crucial “questions of law” raised by a Supreme Court judge regarding its maintainability.

The backdrop to this discussion was Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah’s query on the viability of revisiting the 12-year-old Zulfikar Ali Bhutto reference, suggesting that the matter had reached finality with the dismissal of a review petition. Bilawal Bhutto, however, did not shy away from raising pertinent questions himself.

In his articulate presentation, Bilawal delved into the fundamental aspect of whether the judiciary can be implicated in a murder or become a co-accused in such a case. The PPP chairman emphasized the importance of addressing this legal quandary, asserting the need for clarity on the role of the judiciary in murder cases.

Bilawal also questioned the “statute of limitation” surrounding the Zulfikar Ali Bhutto reference, filed by then-President Asif Ali Zardari in 2011. He challenged the notion of time-barred cases, arguing that seeking justice for murder is a fundamental legal right that should not be constrained by the passage of time.

“Murder is murder, no matter how many years have passed,” Bilawal emphatically stated, underscoring the timeless pursuit of justice and accountability.

Taking a subtle jab at past instances, Bilawal raised questions about the legal basis of certain initiatives, without explicitly naming figures. Notably, he alluded to former Chief Justice Saqib Nisar’s dam fund campaign and questioned whether any Chief Justice has the authority to alter a city’s landscape by demolishing the homes of the underprivileged, referring to the actions of ex-Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed in Karachi.

Read more: Bilawal vows to uphold legacy and pursue justice for Zulfikar Ali Bhutto

Expressing optimism, Bilawal expressed hope that the Supreme Court, in its order, would not only address the legal intricacies of the Zulfikar Ali Bhutto reference but also set a precedent for progress and prosperity in the country, aligning with the principles of the law and the Constitution. As the legal proceedings continue, Bilawal’s intervention adds a layer of depth to the ongoing discourse, emphasizing the importance of legal clarity and justice in the pursuit of truth.