KARACHI: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari on Monday said that those who were afraid of Benazir Bhutto once, are now afraid of Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.
Responding to the incident of protesters pelting stones and charging batons on the convoy of Bilawal Bhutto during his visit to Lyari, he said: “It’s evident even today that Lyari still belongs to Bhutto”.
He called upon party workers to be patient. “Those who remain patient never miss their target,” he said.
Talking about security concerns to Bilawal Bhutto’s life he said, “God and the people will protect Bilawal. Bilawal Bhutto has hoisted the flag of Quaid-e-Awam Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto.”
On the other hand, Opposition Leader in Senate Shery Rehman has also demanded appropriate security measures for Bilawal Bhutto Zardari during the public gathering.
The PPP leader said that Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) is responsible to conduct free and fair elections. She said Bilawal Bhutto will go in the public to fulfil his mother’s mission. She demanded that the media blackout of their campaign must be ended.
‘AN ACT WITH MESSAGE’:
Zardari said that the arrest of his affiliate from his hometown “is an act with a message” for him.
Speaking in an interview, the former president said that a message was given to him through the arrest of Ismail Dahri from Nawabshah.
The PPP leader further said that Dahri is a small landowner and works for political canvassing in the area.
“Ismail wouldn’t have been arrested if I had struck a deal with someone. In fact there would have been arrests on my directions,” he said.
Responding to a question, the former president predicted that in the forthcoming polls independent candidates would win majority of seats in Punjab.
Zardari said that he doesn’t want to make the next government at any cost, however, added that the political parties aspiring to make the next government would have to take his party on board.
The PPP leader said that he wants Bilawal to get parliamentary experience and he won’t have any objection if he becomes the next opposition leader.
“It would be better if I see him becoming prime minister in my life,” he said.
Zardari said that there is no constitutional justification to delay the forthcoming polls, adding that the political parties have to strengthen Election Commission of Pakistan.
The former president said that he believes in ‘evolution’ than ‘revolution’, and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan has the right to critisise him but he himself has closed his doors by saying that he won’t sit with him.
The PPP leader said that senior political figure Manzoor Watto is no more part of the PPP as he chose to contest the next polls as an independent candidate.