Our Shaheeds told us to stand our ground, not to take U-turns: Bilawal

ISLAMABAD: Chairman PPP Bilawal Bhutto Zardari Thursday said the so-called leaders were saying that one could not become a leader without taking U-turns but ‘we were taught by the Shaheeds of our party to stand your ground and do not give up your principles’.

He said this while addressing the launch of a novel on the life of former prime minister and PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto written by the Turkish writer Yasar Seyman.

The novel has been published in Turkish, English and Urdu languages.

The ceremony was also attended by Turkish Ambassador to Pakistan Ihsan Mustafa Yurdakal, Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan, and Hamna Malik, who translated the book into Urdu.

Bilawal said he could not pluck courage to write on the martyrdom of his mother despite that over 12 years had passed. ”It is very difficult for a son. She was not only my mother, but my leader as well,” he said. “The name of Islamabad Airport was Benazir International Airport but it was changed,” he said.

Similarly, he said an attempt was made to change the name of Benazir Income Support Program.

“But no one will be able to erase her name from the hearts and minds of the people of Pakistan,” he said.

He said Benazir Bhutto Shaheed had been targeted for being a woman and when she was campaigning for her first election it was said that a woman could not be prime minister.

“Her haters gathered together and fatwas were issued against her. It was announced from the mosques that a woman could not become prime minister, and if one voted for her then his/her marriage will be annulled,” he said. He said Shaheed Benazir Bhutto confronted all of them and became prime minister.

Bilawal said massive rigging took place in 1988 elections and it was first experience that how selected are chosen. “The then president came to Asif Ali Zardari and asked him to become prime minister because they did not want to salute a woman. But people voted for Benazir Bhutto and not Asif Ali Zardari or anyone else,” he said.

He said man and woman were equals and women should get their due rights.

He said Benazir Bhutto had proved to the world that a woman could do better than a man.

Bilawal said Benazir Bhutto remained in prison in General Zia's time and refused to get ice in Sukkur prison saying unless her workers get ice, she will not.

“Now there are leaders who rule the Punjab and recite poems as well but run away when police come to get them. Same action is taken by the leaders of this selected government,” he said.

He said Benazir Bhutto did not bow before the dictatorship of General Zia and General Musharraf.

“She was leading from front during the long march. She was fighting tear-gas and baton-charges. Workers shielded her but we have witnessed selected leaders waving from containers,” he said.