Pakistan in hot waters due to ‘non-existent’ foreign policy, says Bilawal

PPP aspires towards a social democratic state

Gilani says Zardari’s acquittal is victory of truth

PPP chairman says PML-N has buried NAP

Kaira says PPP still alive, thriving 

FATEH JANG, ATTOCK: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari bashed the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government over a lack of foreign policy in the face of external pressure, while addressing a large gathering of supporters in Fateh Jang, Attock on Saturday.

He said Pakistan has become diplomatically isolated because of a non-existent foreign policy, in a reference to recent US President Trump’s criticism. He said even if the country has a foreign minister now it is of no use, as he was out at GT Road asking people why his leader was disqualified instead of doing his job.

He said PPP did not bend before any dictator and was never scared of any terrorist. He said thousands of PPP activists and its leader Benazir Bhutto laid their lives for the sake of democratic Pakistan.

Bilawal said army alone cannot eradicate terrorism from the country as a unified public support is necessary in this regard. He criticized the implementation of the National Action Plan (NAP), saying that the banned outfits were setting up political parties by changing their names. He alleged that PML-N has buried the National Action Plan (NAP).

He said that both, PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairperson Imran Khan, were incompetent to govern Pakistan as both had no agenda to steer the country out of crises instead they remained busy in power politics.

He lashed out at Imran Khan for his absence from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa despite a dengue outbreak. There, in Peshawar, people were dying of dengue virus, while Imran was busy addressing a gathering in Sukkur. “Imran Khan, you were afraid of Taliban; but are you also afraid of mosquitoes now,” he quipped.

He challenged his critics to open their eyes and see the size of his party’s rally, saying conspiracy to sideline his party was thwarted by people. “PPP is a party of federation, which represents all provinces,” he said. “Our leaders were assassinated, but we didn’t abandon politics of federation,” he added.

He said today all segments of society including farmer, labourers, and people belonging to the textile sector are oppressed, adding that public cooperation is necessary in order to pull out the country from prevailing crises and put it on the path of development and prosperity. Bilawal further said that the party believed in the power of people and would work for making Pakistan a social democracy.

PPP central leaders, including Syed Nayyar Hussain, Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani, Raja Pervez Ashraf, Qamar Zaman Kaira, Nadeem Afzal Chan, Sardar Saleem Haider and others were present on the occasion.

Former prime minister Raja Pervez Ashraf said that Bilawal Bhutto Zardari will contest the next general elections, adding that he was optimistic that PPP would clinch victory with a land-slide margin under the leadership of Bilawal.

Ex- prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said late Benazir Bhutto had returned to Pakistan to serve the masses not to rule over them and once again the party will come into power to serve its people. He termed acquittal of Asif Ali Zardari from the accountability court as a victory of truth.

PPP Punjab President Manzoor Watto said the party has rendered uncountable sacrifices for democracy, adding that PPP would continue its mission of serving the masses.

While addressing the crowd, Shah said the rally was a proof of PPP’s existence in Punjab. He maintained former prime minister Nawaz Sharif has been asking about his crime that led to him being disqualified. “Nawaz Sharif should ask the public not us where he went wrong,” Shah said.

While speaking about the accountability court’s decision, Kaira said those spreading propaganda have gone into hiding as former president Asif Ali Zardari has been acquitted. Kaira said residents of Fateh Jang have responded to those who were saying that PPP has been ended. He said Ayub Khan, Yahya Khan, Zia and others perished but PPP is still alive.

According to local leaders of the party, at least 20,000 chairs were placed at the site, as flocks of activists and party workers thronged the site from different parts of the country.

More than 600 policemen were stationed to provide security to the venue with walk-through gates installed at the entrances.