ISLAMABAD: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari expressed on Friday that a defunct political party was revived by a court decision that removed the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) from its electoral symbol (bat), implying that the judiciary was to blame for the ongoing crises.

Speaking in the National Assembly, Bilawal stated, “No one in this House is responsible for the current crisis in the country. The court alone was and remains the cause of the crisis.” He emphasized that the judiciary has been continuously “interfering” in Pakistan’s politics.

Bilawal highlighted the judiciary’s history, noting that his party had to seek justice for its martyred leaders — Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto. He claimed that the PPP founder did not receive a fair trial from the judiciary and lamented the delay in justice for ordinary citizens. He added that his grandfather finally received justice this year, albeit posthumously.

Regarding the PTI’s bat symbol case, Bilawal explained that it was initially linked to the party’s “rigged” intra-party elections, as per the court’s ruling. He clarified that neither he nor the government was responsible for the verdict on the bat symbol. “This verdict revived a dead political party, which then began mobilizing,” he said, adding that the decision had political ramifications and benefitted PTI just before the February 8 general elections.

Bilawal criticized the Supreme Court for stripping PTI of its electoral symbol ‘bat’ ahead of the elections, accusing the court of distributing verdicts and seats to PTI “like candy.” He argued that the court issued a political decision that PTI did not even request, which was not permitted by law or the Constitution.

In a sarcastic remark, Bilawal commented on the judiciary’s role in the country, suggesting that the institution is so powerful that it cannot only manage the courts but also construct dams.

During his speech in Parliament, which was disrupted by opposition protests, the PPP leader expressed concern about the growing politics of hatred in the country. “The political division today is unprecedented,” he said.

Referring to the political crisis in Bangladesh, Bilawal mentioned that Pakistanis are closely observing the situation following anti-government protests that led to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s resignation. He stressed the importance of the state focusing on the issues of the people, who are currently facing an economic crisis.