Nawaz was ousted for telling a lie to SC: Bilawal

MULTAN: PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has said former premier Nawaz Sharif was ousted from power because of telling a lie in the Supreme Court, adding who is asking politicians to join Bani Gala (Imran Khan’s party).

Addressing the party workers on Sunday at Multan’s Bilawal House, he said the PML-N and the PTI are two sides of the same coin and their politics is anti-people. The PPP would stand with the people of south Punjab, he added. He said the PML-N government was determined to sell the PIA while the PPP was involved in poverty alleviation through the Benazir Income Support Programme and provided relief to 600,000 families.

He complained that the media only highlights Imran Khan and Nawaz Sharif while blacks out the PPP’s performance. The PPP gifted the 18th Amendment and the NFC Award to the nation, he further added. The PML-N has destroyed agriculture, manufacturing sector and textile. He said he would frequently visit south Punjab in the coming days and make up with the disgruntled party members.

Bilawal asked the workers to join hands with him to complete the mission of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto. He emphasised that all the party cadres and workers in south Punjab should be mobilised to play a vibrant role in the election campaign.

Earlier, the PPP manifesto committee formally included creation of separate province consisting of 11 districts of Multan, Bahawalpur and Dera Ghazi Khan in the party manifesto 2018, PPP insiders disclosed to this correspondent. The marathon meeting of PPP manifesto committee and PPP south Punjab executive committee was held at Multan Bilawal House, chaired by the party chairman. The PPP executive committee has formally declared Multan Bilawal House as South Punjab PPP People’s Secretariat for holding all party activities and workers gatherings.

A debate was held on the name of new province as some members were of the view the party should adopt new province name as Seraiki and some of members argued in favour of South Punjab province. However, consensus developed over the name for new province as South Punjab. The meeting also decided organising a big session of Seraiki poetry and Bilawal would attend it. The PPP women wing complained that 10 million female voters were not registered in electoral lists and the party devised a strategy for enlisting female voters.

Former premier Yousaf Raza Gilani, PPP Secretary General Nayyar Hussain Bokhari, party’s finance secretary Haider Zaman Qureshi, central executive committee member Makhdoom Shahabuddin, South Punjab PPP office-bearers Kh Rizwan Alam, Natasha Daultana, manifesto committee members Abdul Qadir Shaheen, Nafis Ansari and others attended the meeting.

Meanwhile, Bilawal criticised the PML-N government on bringing tax amnesty scheme at a wrong time. He said people need to support the PPP for real change and country’s progress. Talking to media Sunday, he said the tax amnesty scheme would not help in collecting tax. He said Nawaz Sharif demands respect to vote but his prime minister was attacking institutions. He further said Imran Khan is taking U-turn all the time and he is master of taking U turns. He has been exposed badly among the masses. Bilawal said prime minister was attacking institutions. He said he would complete the mission of Benazir Bhutto. He said the PPP would resolve masses problems, adding “if the elections are held in a transparent manner, the party would sweep the next general election. He advised prime minister to accept Senate chairman. He warned the 18th Amendment cannot be replaced as efforts were being made to abolish provincial autonomy.