Country’s fate can’t be left to just two persons: Bilawal

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has said that time has come to let the people decide the future of Pakistan, urging the masses not to leave the fate of the country to two people alone.

“I know how elections are conducted, but I also know that when people of Pakistan wake up, no one can stop them,” he said while addressing the Balochistan High Court Bar Association in Quetta on Friday.

Bilawal said that general elections are going to be held on February 8 next year. “We are being told that the one who became the prime minister thrice will also become the prime minister for the fourth time and will rid the country of all the troubles.

“And the other person is the one who was prime minister a few years ago, who had said that the protesting Hazara community in Balochistan were blackmailers and who, being the prime minister, considered the issue of missing persons unimportant. He liked to call himself a youth leader despite being 70 years old.”

The PPP chairman said that there was no objection that they are older. “Age does not matter; one can adopt a new style of politics even when one is old. Or you can be interested in the same old style of politics even when you are young.”

He emphasised that we have to leave the traditional and old political thinking. “We will bury the politics of hate, ego and division and move forward. Inshallah, the PPP will be in the government. We will first give the people of Balochistan their right,” he said.

Bilawal said he feels the pain and suffering of the people of Balochistan. The people will have to be made partners in political, economic and social matters, he added.

The PPP chairman said that those politicians who made our blood cheap should not be given another chance. “I also know that when the people and youth take a decision, no power in the world can reverse it. I request you to surprise them all on February 8, use your voting power, come out in large numbers and don’t leave the fate of the country to two people,” he added.

He said that when former president Asif Ali Zardari took measures like the launch of Aghaz-e-Huqooq-Balochistan, 18th Amendment and NFC Award during his tenure, these were tantamount to the victory of Balochistan.

PPP’s previous governments in Sindh have ensured the development and welfare of local population as well as protection of their rights by making them shareholders in the resources of Thar.

Bilawal asked whether the people of Balochistan consider themselves a part of CPEC or not. “I think the people of Balochistan are being abused. CPEC was founded by President Asif Ali Zardari, but the project was not carried forward according to his vision. Balochistan has minerals and resources. The whole of Pakistan does not have that,” he added.

Separately, addressing the chairmen and mayors of Balochistan local bodies in the annual general meeting of Local Council Association, Balochistan chapter, Bilawal said if the party’s government is formed after the upcoming general elections, they would introduce Green Energy Parks at the district level to solve the long-standing electricity crisis and poor families will be provided free electricity up to 300 units monthly.

The PPP chairman also criticised the traditional non-public approach of bureaucracy, saying that bureaucrats sitting in Islamabad neither do the work themselves nor let anyone else do it, adding that like Balochistan, Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the people of Punjab also feel deprived. He once again categorically said the PPP believed in making local bodies administratively and financially independent. There was a need to focus more on local solutions to alleviate the problems faced by the people.

He termed the local government office-bearers truly grassroot representatives and urged that both the federal and provincial governments must consult with the local government representatives in preparing the annual budget. “Working together can solve many of the problems people are facing,” he said.

Bilawal termed the issue of climate change a big challenge and threat for Pakistan, warning that more difficulties may be faced in this regard. He recalled that last year there was a sudden huge flood, while before that, different parts of the country were suffering from drought.

He said that due to climate change, Sindh and Balochistan are at the highest risk of damage, adding the governments would have to change development plans, and it will have to be designed with climate change in view. “We need to invest in water reservoirs, irrigation systems and schools to build green infrastructure. When we do this, we can protect our infrastructure from future floods and climate change. On the other hand, this development process will provide employment to local people,” he added.

He further said that sufferings of the people are increasing due to the mutual fights, due to which people are losing confidence in the governments. “We have to restore the confidence of people. If the democratic parties fail, another force will take our place. This situation will not be good for our country and region,” he said.

Local Council Association of Pakistan President Syed Kumail Hyder Shah and other leaders of the organisation were also present on this occasion.

Local Council Association, Balochistan chapter meeting was attended by the chairmen of district councils of 32 districts, mayors of six municipal corporations and chairman of 128 municipal corporations of Balochistan province.