Nawaz wants to usurp people’s rights by forming ‘puppet’ govt: Bilawal

ISLAMABAD/KARACHI: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari charged former prime minister Nawaz Sharif with making an attempt to usurp people’s rights by forming a “puppet” government.

Speaking at a rally in Tharparkar on Saturday, he emphasised that while other politicians were focused on their own interests and seeking support from “elsewhere”, he stood alone as a leader seeking votes directly from people. “I do not have anyone else’s support; I am standing here only with the people’s support,” he said.

Bilawal promised that if he was elected as the prime minister, he would build three million houses for the poor and double the income of people. He criticised Nawaz Sharif, without mentioning his name, saying that an individual was attempting to mislead the public by falsely claiming credit for the Thar coal project.

“If it were his project, I wouldn’t be speaking here today but rather him. After February 8, we will further develop the Thar coal project, running trains from Tharparkar to Karachi,” he added.

Bilawal said Nawaz Sharif wants work done for him and he remains in control and imposes his authority on Pakistan. “We must be wary of his puppet government in Karachi, as he is trying to deceive people. Mian Sahib’s facilitators are contesting elections in Sindh and we need to be alert to safeguard our rights,” he said while taking a jibe at Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan (MQMP) which entered into an alliance with the PMLN in November last year.

Bilawal said that he would not allow the Karonjhar Mountain in the district to be damaged by the elite, stating, “I will cut off the hands that move towards Karonjhar. Here, if anyone has the right to do business, it is the locals first.”

He said the PMLN was focusing only on specific areas in one province, alleging that Nawaz Sharif was not campaigning in Sindh as his governments in the past did not make any contribution to the province’s development. He asked the people of Chhachhro, “Who launched the Thar coal project?” to which the public replied, “Benazir, Benazir....”

He appealed to people of Tharparkar to support PPP candidates Dr. Mahesh Malani, Faqir Sher Muhammad Bilalani, Arbab Lutfullah, Amir Ali Shah Jilani, Dost Muhammad Rahmoon and Qasim Siraj Soomro on February 8, and took an oath from the candidates to serve people without discrimination after winning the elections.

Meanwhile, addressing an election rally in Mirpurkhas, he again criticised Nawaz Sharif, saying a person wanted to become the prime minister for the fourth time even if the country was destabilised. He said Mian Sahib was very scared, and he was a coward and a timid person. Should people support a cowardly and timid person, he asked.

He said Nawaz Sharif wanted to cheat on the vote of Mirpurkhas, while sitting in Raiwind. He wanted to defeat Pir Aftab Shah, but the Jiyalas of Mirpurkhas had defeated dictatorship, and he was not a lion but a cat. Who will be afraid of him, he said mockingly.

He said if someone rigged elections, stop them there and take Form 45 and then leave the polling station. He said “I will hunt the tiger with an arrow.”

Former chief minister Murad Ali Shah and others were also present.

According to the PPP announcement, the PPP would hold a power show in Larkana on February 6, and Bilawal would address the public meeting at Municipal Stadium there.