- PPP to go solo in general elections
- Bilawal calls Nawaz a compromised politician
As Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Thursday called Pervez Musharraf a coward and asked him to return to the country and face the courts, the former president and military ruler snapped back, accusing PPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari of murdering Benazir Bhutto.
Musharraf said Zardari had the most to gain from the assassination of Benazir Bhutto.
In response to Bilawal’s allegations during the Benazir’s death anniversary commemoration at Gari Khuda Bux on Wednesday, a rather misogynistic Musharraf mocked Bilawal, saying, “I would like to say to Bilawal, who is raising these slogans like a woman, that he should first become a man,” while demanding evidence for these allegations.
Continuing to blame the husband of Benazir, Asif Zardari, for the killing, he enquired, “What evidence is there against me? You only keep saying that I did not provide any security (to Benazir), How can you say that? I say that the government provided 100 per cent security to her and it was not even my job.”
Everything points towards Zardari being involved in the murder, he said, adding, “Zardari got a fake will written and took over the party, besides becoming the owner of Benazir’s property that made him rich.”
The former president also blamed Rehman Malik, saying how could he fled the scene when his duty was to be with Benazir.
In another question referring to Khalid Shehenshah, Musharraf asked who murdered the close aide and jailmate of Asif Zardari. “It is a mystery [to me]that the murderer himself was also killed under mysterious circumstances,” he quipped.
According to Musharraf, the reason for Bilawal’s allegations is to put him down, as well as to put the army down, indirectly.
On Wednesday, Musharraf had said that there was a possibility that some “rogue elements from the establishment” conspired with the Taliban to murder the then-PPP chief, Benazir.
BILAWAL ASKS MUSH TO FACE COURTS:
Hitting back at Musharraf, the PPP chairman, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, dared him to come back to the country and face the courts. Talking to the reporters at the inauguration ceremony of a new building of Sukkur Press Club, Bilawal went on to add more to his long-list of accusations against the former president, saying Musharraf was involved in Karsaz bombing as well as in the murder of former Balochistan governor and nationalist leader Akbar Bugti.
While he is in Pakistan, Musharraf blames Zardari for the murder and when he gives an interview to the BBC, he states that may be certain elements of the establishment are involved, said Bilawal referring to Wednesday BBC report.
Showing trust in the judiciary, which had declared Musharraf an absconder in the Benazir murder case, he said, “I have hopes in Pakistan’s judicial system, which has kept me from suing Musharraf in other countries. I appeal to these courts to give me and my family justice.”
PPP TO GO SOLO IN GENERAL ELECTIONS:
Commenting on the future strategy of the PPP in the coming elections, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari ruled out the idea of making alliances with any of the political parties for the 2018 polls. He said the party will enter the political arena on its own.
Bilawal’s statement, endorsed by the senior leadership of the party, came in the aftermath of party’s crucial consultation to devise a fresh political strategy in view of the forthcoming elections, a private media outlet reported.
The PPP chairman said the party will step into the elections on its own sign and slogan, adding that the “PPP will issue tickets to its candidates from every constituency.”
Referring to the upcoming general elections, Bilawal said that the polls will be held on time and will be held in a peaceful manner. “Pakistan is a young and fragile democracy,” he cautioned.
In the meeting, the party leadership also decided to step up the efforts in countering the popularity of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), with a special focus on the rural areas of Punjab.
Earlier this month, Bilawal had also promised a separate south Punjab province in a political gathering in Multan.
‘NAWAZ IS A COMPROMISED POLITICIAN’
Taking a jibe at former premier Nawaz Sharif, Bilawal Zardari said that the former prime minister was a compromised politician. “He was never an ideological politician and can never be one,” he told reporters.
Mocking Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan, he said that “whenever Imran Khan visits Sindh and is addressing empty chairs, his tone gets harsher.”
“Both are favoured and fighting with each other,” said Bilawal while mocking the PML-N and PTI.
Reiterating his support for Pakistan Awami Tehreek’s (PAT) Dr Tahirul Qadri, he said the PPP will support Qadri morally and politically in PAT’s struggle for justice in the Model Town killings.
Bilawal also showed concerns over the state of journalist community in the country, saying the community is weakening and journalism is in the state of crises.
Earlier in the day, Bilawal, Asif Ali Zardari, Bakhtawar Bhutto and Assefa Bhutto paid a visit to the mausoleum of Benazir and Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.