Bilawal woos PTI workers, blames PMLN for their suffering

LAHORE: PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said on Sunday he knew the pain that the PTI workers were going through and blamed Nawaz Sharif’s PMLN for the former ruling party’s setbacks. “I respect political workers. I’ve been through this and I do not want anyone to go through such testing times,” he said.

Vowing to crush terrorism after coming to power, Bilawal said Pakistan could not be handed over to politicians who deceived the nation.

“The terrorists are once again regrouping but I will eliminate them,” said PPP Chairman while addressing a public gathering in NA-127 here on Sunday.

Bilawal Bhutto promised that he would implement the 10-point agenda if the nation supported the PPP. He said PPP, if given the chance, would fulfil its promise and prove it had been the party that had always been the representative of poor and downtrodden segments of Pakistan.

Bilawal Bhutto added that under the vision of Quaid-e-Awam Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, the party government would construct 3 million houses and regularise Katchi Abadis while giving residents property rights. He urged the PPP workers to go door to door and convey the message of the party chairman.

He said the party, if it came into power, would not only expand the network of BISP programmes but also provide loans to women so that they could play their role in boosting the national economy. He said through solar panels, the party would address the electricity crisis which would be free of cost till 300 units to the poor. Every labourer would receive Mazdoor card for economic safety besides free of cost health treatment.

Bilawal urged the youth not to waste their vote power, adding he himself was the representative of youth. He said youth of the country would be given youth cards for their financial assistance besides they will provide them skills and employment.

The PPP chairman also said the party would snatch back its rights from the ruling elite which was given a subsidy of Rs500 billion.

The PPP chairman, who is the candidate from NA-127, stated that opponents taunted the party as to why it was contesting from Lahore while it had no vote bank here. “Lahore belongs to me, not to them,” said Bilawal while responding to his critics.

He further said that Lahore got Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto elected and made them prime ministers. He said that Lahore gave an enthusiastic reception to Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto when she returned to Pakistan in 1986. Through a planned conspiracy, Bilawal said the PPP was defeated from Lahore and figures like a ‘Showba’ or ‘Wasim Akram plus’ were imposed on Lahore.

He said Imran Khan was urged time and again not to indulge in the politics of hatred and vendetta. He said PPP had faced brutality at the hands of PMLN that was now being done to PTI. “Come and support us,” said Bilawal while asking the PTI workers to vote for PPP. He said PPP prime ministers Benazir Bhutto and Yusuf Raza Gilani ordered the release of all political prisoners because PPP never believed in victimising its opponents.

Bilawal said PPP would set up Truth and Reconciliation Commission to discourage victimisation of political workers. He hailed Pakistan Awami Tehreek head Dr Tahirul Qadri and requested him to change his decision of quitting politics. He also paid tribute to former Punjab governor Chaudhry Sarwar and party stalwart Aitzaz Ahsan.

Meanwhile, noted political figures addressed the public meeting of Bilawal Bhutto Zardari held at the Township cricket ground. Punjab’s former governor Chaudhry Sarwar, Pakistan Awami Tehreek leader Khurram Gandapur, PPP leaders Aitzaz Ahsan, PPP President Lahore Aslam Gill, Chaudhry Manzoor, Samina Ghurki and others spoke on the occasion.