Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Friday reaffirmed his party’s fight against ‘non-democratic forces’ as the party celebrated its 51st foundation day.
Addressing a grand ceremony held in Sukkur, where thousands of loyal supporters gathered to pay tribute to the party and its top leadership, he said that continued fight against non-democratic forces has always been part and parcel of the party’s journey.
Bilawal said that Pakistan’s greatest challenge is dealing with the fusion of religion and politics. “Dictators have always used religion to give some form or shape to their fake politics despite the fact that a democratic political system is a society-wide matter,” he said, adding that the whole country is burning the fire which was set by the dictators.
“Religious terrorism was born when religion began to be used for political purposed. The name of Islam, the religion of peace, security and progress, was harmed because of terrorism,” he said.
He said that the country needs to return to the philosophy of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and the fundamental values of the party to save itself from the fire that has now reached every doorstep.
“That fire is the fire of extremism, terrorism, and intolerance which has engulfed the entire society. We have to extinguish these flames. We have to save Pakistan. We have to fulfil the promise made by Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto,” he said.
Bilawal also said that the incumbent government would not be able to save the country because it does not own up to the issues that stand before it.
“We will not be able to extinguish these flames until our prime minister does not consider extremism and terrorism his personal mission. You tell me, when, on Martyrs Day, the premier stands before the heirs of the martyred and says ‘this war is not our war’ then one can only imagine what the families must have gone through,” the PPP chairman said.
“Khan sahab I ask you this: What was their sacrifice for? Did they not fight this war to protect Pakistan and ensure its safety?” he added.
Bilawal also reminded the audience about PPP’s struggle through history which, according to him, has always been against powers that seek to harm democracy.
“You know very well that PPP’s fight has always been against non-democratic forces and the ‘political ladlas‘ (blue-eyed boys) that have been pampered under the patronage of such forces. First, we were fighting against one ladla and now another has stepped onto the battleground. But this is an ‘anokha ladla’ (rare favourite) who when wanted the moon to play with, was given the whole country. The games he is playing today will lead to consequences no different from those brought about by ladlas of the past. This ladla steals first and then also thumps his chest to show off. He says one thing in the morning and another at night, only to turn his back against both later. He takes U-turns upon U-turns and then says ‘without U-turns there can be no leadership,” Bilawal said.
He said that never before had the public lost its faith in the government even before its first 100 days were up, adding that “People are fed up with ‘Naya Pakistan’s doings’”.
“The burden of inflation has broken the backs of people. There is a shortage of gas, electricity, power. Unemployed youth are disappointed with life itself. Economic murder of farmers is being committed. There is no sign of the economy recovering. And this government refuses to get down from containers. The PTI government took refuge in accountability to further their politics of revenge. They defamed their political opponents and then shut down the accountability commission in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). Billion-tree tsunami corruption and Peshawar Metro corruption files were closed. Those faced with legal cases were made ministers. They talked about bringing a revolution in 100 days. Now 100 days have passed but nothing has been done regarding South Punjab,” he said, adding that the promise “had turned out to be a lie” and that “the golden dream has been sold for a few ministries”.
Further criticising the incumbent government, he said that on the one hand people are being evicted out of their homes and businesses are being destroyed and on the other, the government is glorifying putting up tents for people.
“100 days in power had been nothing but a 100 days of U-turns and that if the prime minister considers U-turns such an integral part of leadership he should take U-turns on inflation, expensive gas and power and on negative politics,” he said.
Former president Asif Ali Zardari, Khursheed Shah, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, Qamar Zaman Kaira, Aitzaz Ahsan, Nisar Khuro also addressed the supporters. They spoke about the journey and evolution of the party over the years. Each sought to remind people that the PPP remains the only party with solutions to the problems Pakistan is faced with. A 2,000-strong police force, including women police officers, was deployed at the venue where thousands of people gathered — including the elderly and mothers with small children.
PPP emerged on the political scene on November 30, 1967, at a convention in Lahore with Zulfikar Ali Bhutto elected as the party chairman.
“Establishment of an egalitarian democracy and application of socialistic ideas to realise economic and social justice,” were listed among the primary aims of the new party at the time.
