Bilawal says contest only between ‘arrow’ and ‘tiger’ after ‘bat’ removal

ISLAMABAD: With the allotment of electoral symbols to political parties and independents and February 8 election day approaching fast, electioneering has picked up across the country.

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairman is already holding rallies in various parts of the country while the other major party, Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PMLN), has announced to launch its election campaign from Okara on Monday (today).

Bilawal, addressing a public meeting in Dera Murad Jamali, headquarters of Naseerabad district in Balochistan, said on Sunday the electoral symbol of bat was no more. Now a battle was imminent between arrow and tiger. He said now people should decide whether they wanted new thinking and new leadership, or old politics and old politicians.

Criticising PMLN supremo Nawaz Sharif and other main leaders of the party, he said: “What kind of this tiger is which is hiding in his house.” He said he was contesting elections to change the destiny of people and serve them.

Bilawal expressed concerns that if the PMLN comes to power, there would be no development in Balochistan for the next five years, and the public would continue to suffer. “If a government is formed under my leadership after the election, I will complete the Pakistan-Iran gas pipeline project and take steps to resolve the Kashmir issue,” he promised.

The PPP chairman said the people of four provinces were not happy with the role of the rulers sitting in Islamabad. “Whom you made prime minister three times and whom you are trying to impose for the fourth time? People do not accept such decisions,” he warned. Bilawal, without naming Nawaz Sharif, severely criticised him, saying an attempt was being made to impose a person for the fourth time. The people of Balochistan did not consider the person as their representative. “People will not allow the failed prime minister to rule the country for the fourth time,” he warned.

The PPP chief said the people of Pakistan were not slaves to anyone. “The people of Balochistan and Naseerabad are brave and do not fear anyone; the people of Balochistan have known this person,” he added.

Bilawal said conspiracies against Pakistan were being hatched everywhere. “Our relations are not good with any neighbouring country, be it Afghanistan, Iran or India. The people of Balochistan, Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh are bearing the brunt,” he added. He said in view of the challenges facing Pakistan, the party which has been serving the people for three generations, should form the government in the country.

“If other parties come to power, they will give relief to the rich, while the poor will only suffer. When the PPP government is formed, we will give relief to people,” he added. “God willing, I will build a university in Naseerabad as well as a hospital like NICVD. Then you will not have to go to Sukkur or Khairpur for treatment,” he promised.

Bilawal reiterated his commitment that he would also resolve the terrorism and missing persons issue in the country. “My brothers are protesting for families of victims of terrorism and my sisters are protesting for missing persons. I can solve the problem of terrorism and missing persons,” he added.

He appealed to the people of Naseerabad to vote for PPP candidates Mir Changez Khan Jamali, Mir Sadiq Umrani, Baboo Ghulam Hussain, Hasan Ali Jamali, Mir Ghulam Fareed Raisani, Faisal Khan Jamali and Maula Dad Khan on February 8.

Later, speaking at a public rally in Khairpur in Sindh on Sunday, Bilawal claimed that his party would form the government after February 8 elections. He took oath from the party’s nominees for the National Assembly and Sindh Assembly, including senior leaders like Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Khurshid Shah and Nasir Hussain Shah, that they would not ignore the people of their constituencies in any case, and fulfil their promises regarding progress and welfare of people.

“We will not do politics of hatred, division and revenge. Rather we will solve the problems by uniting everyone. Other parties have no ideology and no manifesto. They don’t even realise the sufferings of people. They have only one manifesto on how to save themselves from jail,” he added.

Meanwhile, the PMLN announced on Sunday that party’s Senior Vice President Maryam Nawaz would address a rally in Okara on Monday. In a post shared on X, PMLN Spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb said Maryam would share the important points of the manifesto with the crowd at Iqbal Stadium, Okara.

She said people would be the winner on February 8 – the day when Pakistan would go for countrywide polling. The days of progress and development would return after her party wins the much-awaited general election.

Capt (retd) Safdar earlier announced that Nawaz Sharif would be in Mansehra on January 22 for a rally – the district which has two National Assembly seats with NA-15 chosen by the PMLN supremo for reaching the new legislature.

Meanwhile, Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) patron-in-chief Jahangir Khan Tareen Sunday vowed to address the problems of Multan.

Addressing a workers convention in Multan, he said, “I am contesting the elections from the two constituencies. Both of them are equally important to me. We are also contesting the elections in other constituencies apart from seat adjustment,” he added. “We want to steer the country towards prosperity. I will put in all-out efforts to serve the constituencies and masses,” he promised.