MITHI: Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari fires fresh salvos at former three time Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif following to PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif’s visit to Balochistan PPP Chairman advised former premier to better focus on Lahore and address the mass problems PML-N is facing across Punjab.

“Mian sahab has been suggested to visit other provinces. I would suggest that he should stay in Lahore and focus on its problems,” said the PPP chairman while addressing press conference in Mithi. PPP chairman urged PML-N to do politics on its own and refrain from relying on others. The former foreign minister made these comments subsequent to the PML-N announcement of jointly contesting polls with Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan (MQM-P).

Bilawal Bhutto during the presser questioned what political party would run away from by-elections if they had a government in a province and centre and had the backing of institutions. “They ran away from the local body election. I don’t know what the fear was and added that the Nawaz-led party should have focused on Balochistan first. PPP chairman also said that the PPP was thrown out of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) and slammed for taking votes from BAP. So “If BAP was bad yesterday, they will be bad today as well. The same result will come out in Mian Sahib’s visit.” It is pertinent to mention here that the PML-N and BAP have had a bitter past, as the party was founded in 2018 by political dissidents from Nawaz’s party as well as those from the PML-Q.

PML-N Chief Organiser Maryam Nawaz had also criticised the PPP leadership for cozying up to the Balochistan-based party, while PML-N was at loggerheads with BAP on the position of opposition leader. However, Nawaz’s party forgot everything and nominated Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar as the interim prime minister. Bilawal, during the presser also said Pakistan cannot prosper amid the politics of backbiting, accusations and revenge. He insisted that there is a huge gap between Islamabad and the people across the country. “Those who sit in Islamabad know less about ground realities. We don’t look left and right, we look towards the people,” the PPP leader said. Looking back at the time when the PPP was part of the grand PDM coalition, the former federal minister said: “Forming a government by supporting PDM was the need of the hour. Had we kept our political interests first, then we would have taken a different decision.” “We are now heading towards the election, we wish for PPP’s government to be formed,” he said.

The former minister iterated that he has no difference or resentment with anyone. “We do not have any dispute with any institution at this time. PPP is looking towards the people, but there is no fight with any institution.” Bilawal once again complained that the PPP never received a level playing field. PPP has been persistently voicing concerns regarding the absence of equal opportunities to prove itself ahead of the polls. The Islami Jamhoori Ittehad was formed against PPP. There was no level playing field, yet the government was formed. “Even today, a field of sorts is being decorated. PPP is ready to play on every pitch. We will hopefully win.” The 35-year-old politico said he is ready to contest elections after his 15 months of performance in the government as the foreign minister. “Are Shehbaz Sharif and other leaders also ready or are they hiding their faces,” he said, taking a jibe at politicians from PPP’s rival parties. Bilawal further said that he has the support of Benazir Bhutto and Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s loyalists, adding that his party is fulfilling the promises of his mother. “We are trying to complete the incomplete mission,” he said, adding that critics said his party cannot deliver.

Speaking about the situation of Tharparkar, Bilawal said that the death rate of women and children in the district has decreased by 50% and that there were no doctors in Thar before, however, PPP has helped reduce unemployment due to its projects. “The manifesto of the PPP is a reflection of its performance in Thar,” he highlighted. Bilawal further added that they will not rest until there are jobs for everyone and the people are not reeled out of poverty. The former minister said that PPP plans to establish a railway line from Tharparkar to Karachi which will help Thar’s coal reach the markets. Bilawal then went on to say that the RO plant in the district faced hurdles due to differences between the province and the federal government, adding that the housing project for the flood victims in Sindh was also slowed down. “We argued with the federal government that the royalties (given to Sindh) should be spent on the people here. However, this couldn’t be sorted out due to the end of our tenure,” he added. The PPP chairman then spoke about the incumbent government, saying that the caretakers are supposed to conduct elections and continue the policy of the previous government. “The caretaker government should provide facilities and not become an obstacle,” he added. Lamenting the lack of attention to education in Pakistan, the former minister said that the NED University’s project has begun in Thar. He added that his party has started a monthly stipend for women so they can teach their children, adding that they want to raise the level of teachers through teacher training.

Published in The Daily National Courier, November, 15 2023

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