Bilawal sets sights on PM House, unveils pro-people manifesto

GARHI KHUDA BAKHSH: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Co-chairman and former president Asif Ali Zardari said on Wednesday that Pakistan was not a poor country but it was Islamabad that had a poor insight into the issues confronting the nation.

Speaking at the 16th death anniversary of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto here on Wednesday, Zardari said: “The problem lies not in Karachi, Quetta, Peshawar, or Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, but in the mindset of those sitting in Islamabad.”

He said the thoughts of the people saddled in the power corridors of Islamabad were limited and narrow. “They cannot perceive the plight of the poor. How do they sleep? If they are hungry or have clothes?”

He said only the politicians could perceive these problems because they are held accountable by our voters. “They only instruct, do this and not that; while we make pledges to them,” Zardari added.

He said the PPP would fulfil all its election promises, like in the past, after coming to power. “We have always kept alive the missions of [Zulfikar Ali] Bhutto and Bibi Sahiba’s.” All the projects I inaugurated during his presidency, were done in the name of Bibi Sahiba, he said and added “because it was her power, her thinking, her people and her votes that made me the president.”

Addressing the participants, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari presented his 10-point election agenda. He said his party was not afraid of elections; it would fight hard and win. “We are not among those who are afraid of elections. We do not run away from elections, and we do not snatch nomination papers of our political opponents.”

“We still demand that elections should be held on the given date. It is my message to other political parties as well that they should come forward and participate in elections.”

Without naming the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PMLN), he said that some political parties continue their politics while standing on others’ shoulders. He said his party did not believe in using other’s shoulders to do politics.

Bilawal said some forces martyred Benazir Bhutto, thinking that they would destroy the PPP, suppress the voice of poor, farmers, workers, students and youth. But they failed, and the PPP was still the strongest party of the Federation. At present, if any political party could save the country by fighting out problems, it was only the PPP, he said.

Bilawal said the old parties and their leaders had become a thing of the past. “Someone is doing politics to get out of jail, and someone is doing so to avoid jail. Pakistan Peoples Party will win the election by burying the old politics,” he added.

He emphasised that politics, institutions and the state should be used to face the challenges faced by the country currently. “We will have to show maturity, have to focus on real issues and must stop fighting among ourselves,” he added.

He said if his 10 points were implemented, problems confronted by the country would be resolved to a large extent. “If I emerge successful in the next election, my first priority would be to double the salaries of employees over the next five years.”

Bilawal said due to persistent loadshedding and heavy bills, people have become fed up. He said his government’s second priority would be to build green energy parks at the district level and provide up to 300 units of green electricity free of charge to needy families.

He said the third point of his agenda was to ensure free and quality education to people across the country, while the fourth point was the provision of free world-class healthcare facilities. “Just as we are providing free health facilities to the public through NICVD, Gambat Hospital, SIUT and Jinnah Hospital in Sindh, we will extend this programme to every district of the country,” he promised. Under “Apni Zamin, Apna Ghar”, 30-lakh housing units would be built and their ownership rights would be given to homeless families across the country.

He said the opponents used to make fun of Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), but now the whole world believes that it is a revolutionary programme. The BISP would be further expanded with more focus on employment, health and education resources.

The PPP chairman said the Kissan Card would be issued and through it, subsidies would be directly transferred to farmers, instead of mill owners. Benazir Mazdoor Card would be introduced for all workers across the country, he added.

He announced that educated unemployed youth would be financially supported through the Youth Card. He said youth centres would be established at the division level, and facilities like a library, free Wi-Fi, cultural activities, vocational training, and career counselling would be available at those centres. “We will fight inflation through hunger eradication programme.”

Addressing the people of Karachi, Lahore, Sindh, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan and south Punjab, Bilawal said the PPP had always protected the rights of people and represented their aspirations. Under a conspiracy, efforts were made to keep the Peoples Party away from Punjab, “but I have decided to participate in election from Lahore and fight from the most difficult constituency.” He said that on February 8, the people of Lahore will give a befitting reply to their opponents. Former chief minister Sindh Murad Ali Shah also addressed the gathering.