Bilawal vows to safeguard south Punjab rights

Says PM facilitating Indian farmers instead of Punjab’s; addresses rally in Rahimyar Khan town

JAMALDIN WALI (Rahimyar Khan): Vowing to safeguard the rights of southern Punjab and protect farmers, Pakistan People’s Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari declared a war against ‘Takht-e-Lahore’ (the throne of Lahore) on Saturday.

“How long will the murderers be allowed to flee the country. The prime minister is selling the national assets, while the poor farmers are being forced to sell their belongings,” Bilawal said. “The amount allocated for southern Punjab in the budget is being spent on Orange Line Train. This is time to revolt against Takht-e-Lahore, which doesn’t want empowerment of masses,” Bilawal added while addressing a big crowed at Jamaldin Wali in Rahim Yar Khan district.

Addressing the prime minister, he said: "The nation demands your accountability as your Kissan Package has failed to give any relief to the poor growers of Punjab due to the Patwar system.” This was the first-ever public meeting addressed by Bilawal after assuming the office as the PPP chairman.

A large number of people from Rahim Yar Khan and other districts of southern Punjab as well as members of the People’s Youth Organisation from different parts of the country turned up to attend the gathering.

Bilawal, coming down hard on Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, said he was victimising the poor farmers, growers, peasants just because Zulfikar Ali Bhutto gave an identity to them and raised voice for their rights. He said it was really a matter of concern for him that rather than facilitating the kissan of Punjab, the PML-N government was taking all measures to facilitate the Indian farmers. “It seems the prime minister is interested in facilitating the Indian farmers rather than helping the farmers of Punjab. He allows import of farm products from India rather than helping the local growers,” Bilawal alleged. Bilawal said the Nawaz government must treat the growers in the same way it was facilitating the consultants of Nandipur project. He said the farmers were facing grave economical challenges due to wrong policies of the rulers.

Showing solidarity with the people of southern Punjab, Bilawal said they would be given their real identity and the PPP would continue to fight for their rights. He said the PML-N government spent Rs162 million on a project which could facilitate only 0.2 million people, while a region comprising over 40 million population was being ignored by the Takht-e-Lahore continuously.

He said the claims of the PML-N government regarding heavy allocation for southern Punjab were merely confined to the budget copies.

He said the PPP, every time when came to power, took all steps for the people of this part of Punjab, which was evident from the fact that it picked a president, prime minister, speaker National Assembly, foreign ministers, chief minister, governors from this region. He said like in the past, conspirators became active against the PPP and its PM was sent home for not writing a letter. Bilawal said the PPP, after losing a PM, once again nominated another figure, Makhdoom Shahabuddin from southern Punjab, but another conspiracy was hatched and his arrest warrants were issued on the day of his nomination.

He said the PPP, during its government, launched Benazir Income Support Programme, and constructed a bridge between Rajanpur and Rahim Yar Khan for the people of southern Punjab. But, the PML-N government completely ignored this area after coming to power.

He said the wealth gap was widening and it was time to bridge that gap, adding the PPP would continue its struggle till the mission of its leadership was accomplished. He said Benazir Bhutto lost her life at the hands of terrorists for the people of Pakistan and it was time to rise against the elements who wanted to damage the federation.

PPP southern Punjab President Makhdoom Ahmed Mehmood, former prime minister Yusuf Raza Gilani, opposition leader in National Assembly Khursheed Shah, Makhdoom Shahabuddin, Sardar Latif Khosa, Engineer Javed Dhillon, Hyder Zaman Qureshi, Shaukat Basra, Abdul Qadir Shaheen, Makhdoom Murtaza Mehmood, Makhdoom Mustafa Mehmood, Natasha Daultana and others were also present on the occasion.

Bilawal congratulated Makhdoom Ahmed Mehmood for organising the public rally and winning the local body polls against the ruling party. He said Nawaz Sharif was not ready to accept the mandate but people had rejected his policies.

Makhdoom Ahmed Mehmood, in his address, vowed to stand by Bilawal Bhutto through thick and thin. During his speech, he also chanted ‘Go Nawaz Go’ slogans and criticised the PML-N government for hatching alleged conspiracies against public mandate.

Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani said in his speech the people of south Punjab were struggling hard against poverty and other issues, adding the PPP was committed to granting them their due rights.