As UN calls for restraint; international reporters at UN ask for Bilawal’s comments on clashes, PTI worker’s death in Lahore

UNITED NATIONS: When foreign reporters at the UN asked Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari for his thoughts on the clashes in Lahore that resulted in the death of an opposition party worker, Zardari urged restraint on everyone’s part and to adhere to democratic norms.

As he left the conference he presided over on “Women in Islam,” Bilawal, who is also co-chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), said, “I think it is important for everyone to restrain themselves to within the democratic framework and it’s important to be playing one’s role within parliament, within the democratic system.

“What you’re seeing is what happens when half of the parliament, or when the opposition decides that the constitution doesn’t apply to them, that democratic structures don’t apply to them, the National Assembly doesn’t apply to them, and they take to the streets or to social media or other forms”, he said.

“While that is legitimate and that’s their right, a more productive way forward for the people of Pakistan would be to work within the institutions of democracy.”

Earlier, the United Nations, while upholding the people’s right to peaceful protest, called for the security forces to exercise maximum restraint. “For us the important thing is that all peaceful protests must be able to go ahead without hindrance,” UN Deputy Spokesman Farhan Aziz Haq said in response to a question about the events in Lahore at the regular noon briefing.

“It’s clear to us that wherever they (rallies) take place in the world, people have the right to peaceful protest and security forces around the world should allow them to go forward,” the spokesperson said. As regard the reported death of the political worker, Haq said it should be investigated thoroughly. “And of course, there needs to be accountability for any deaths or injuries that occur. But, of course, in situations like these, we call on security forces to exercise maximum restraint.”