PPP’s 57th foundation day: 'Dialogue or baton', political stability a must, says Bilawal

ISLAMABAD: Referring to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Pakistan People Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has slammed the opposition for agitational politics, stressing the need for ensuring stability in the country either via “dialogue or baton”.

Addressing the party workers and supporters via video link to mark the PPP’s 57th foundation day, Bilawal urged “non-political opposition” to adopt democratic norms to ensure economic stability.

Bilawal said the major opposition parties in the country were neither political nor democratic.

He said that the May 9 attack and the events that took place in Islamabad did not come under the purview of politics.

“As a politician, we have to come within the ambit of politics,” he said adding that opposition along with government also responsible for ensuring stability in the country.

He also urged the non-political opposition to adopt democratic norms, warning that if they continued with the same attitude then they themselves and the country would suffer.

He also referred to the reports that the Centre was planning to impose governor rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and said that the government did not ask them on the issue of imposing governor’s rule or to ban any political party, adding that if the matter was put in before the PPP, we would try to take a decision with mutual consultation.

Bilawal said that the whole world was watching what is happening in Parachinar. The writ of the state is ending, while the responsibility of establishing peace is with the chief minister, but he was attacking the federal government.

He said that if they wanted to get their founder out of jail, they should leave the provincial government and keep doing that. No one has the right to attack by forming a mob. “It is everyone’s right to protest peacefully, but by forming a mob May 9 or Islamabad should not be attacked. Our point of view is different from the government’s viewpoint.”

He said that the opposition has always maintained that there would be no talks. If they wanted to talk to anyone that is the establishment or non-political people.

Firing a salvo at the PTI, Bilawal said that the opposition party was not showing interest in solving public problems. He said their sole priority was to ensure release of their incarcerated leader.

The PPP leader said that they wanted to restore peace and end terrorism in the country. He said that the political parties and the institutions were capable to steer the country out of crisis.

Bilawal declared opposition “biggest obstacle” in bringing political stability in the country.

In the same address, the PPP chief said that the space for politics is less in the country, stressing the need for all political parties to return to the political sphere. He also criticised the federal government policies for agriculture, saying it was feared that such policies would lead to the “economic murder” of farmers instead of benefitting them.

Calling upon the Centre to listen to the reservations of the provincial governments, Bilawal said the federal government was planning to draw a canal from the Indus River.

“If the government pushes forward with this decision, the problem between the federal government and the province will increase,” he warned.

Bilawal said the decision would also have a negative impact on the country’s economy. “PPP will not accept any forced decision.”

Moving on to terrorism, the PPP chairman said: “Our army, police and [political] leadership rendered [unmatched] sacrifices and defeated terrorists.” He further said that the PPP demands a new plan would have to be brought against terrorism. A new national action plan is needed, and a development plan is also necessary.

Stressing the need for a new action plan, he said terrorism was rearing its head once again in Sindh, Balochistan and Islamabad.

Earlier, the PPP celebrated its 57th Foundation Day at a ceremony held at the PPP Central Secretariat in Islamabad.

The event, attended by party leaders, workers, and supporters, featured a cake-cutting ceremony led by party’s Vice President Senator Sherry Rehman, PPP-Parliamentarians Secretary General Syed Nayyar Hussain Bukhari and other senior party office-bearers and workers.

Speaking to the media during the event, Sherry Rehman reaffirmed the party’s steadfast commitment to democracy, justice, and the empowerment of Pakistan’s citizens. She emphasised that the day marked not just the founding of the PPP but the establishment of a historic movement for the restoration of democracy and the protection of citizens’ rights.

“On this significant day, we pay tribute to our visionary founder, Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, whose leadership gave a voice to the voiceless and hope to the marginalised. His decision to establish the Pakistan People’s Party on November 30, 1967, was a turning point in our history, and his ideals remain the cornerstone of our political philosophy,” she said.

Sherry also honoured the contributions of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, who not only carried forward her father’s legacy but strengthened Pakistan’s democratic foundations. She reiterated Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto’s sacrifices for democracy, human rights, and gender equality, noting that her leadership laid the groundwork for lasting initiatives. “The Lady Health Worker Programme, which remains the backbone of Pakistan’s healthcare system, and the Benazir Income Support Programme, which has provided critical relief to countless vulnerable communities, are examples of the transformative impact of her vision,” she stated.

Reflecting on the PPP’s achievements, she noted the foundational role played by President Asif Ali Zardari in laying the groundwork for the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which continues to drive economic growth and connectivity in the region. She also stressed the pivotal role of the PPP in empowering women, with Shaheed Benazir Bhutto’s contributions serving as a beacon for gender equality and social progress.

She further praised the leadership of Bilawal, under whose guidance the PPP has continued to champion the ideals of its founding leaders. “Chairman PPP Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has led the party with determination, ensuring that the PPP remains a beacon of hope and a catalyst for change in the face of unprecedented challenges. His leadership is a testament to our ongoing struggle for a peaceful, progressive, and prosperous Pakistan.”

Meanwhile, addressing the PPP Foundation Day ceremony at Lahore, PPP Central Punjab General Secretary Syed Hassan Murtaza has said that some leaders call their workers to the streets and run away, but the PPP stalwarts gave sacrifices. Today the PPP’s democratic convoy is moving on in the form of the third generation of the Bhutto family, he said.

PPP MNA Samina Ghurki congratulate the party workers on the completion of 57 years of the PPP.

Sindh Government Spokesperson and Mayor Sukkur Barrister Arsalan Islam Sheikh, addressing a Youm-e-Tasees, said that 57 years ago Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto started the journey of the PPP to struggle for the rights of common people.

He said that after Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the rulers had forgotten the people.

Bhutto started this journey on the basis of one-man-one-vote system, equality and socialism.

He said that the journey has been continued by Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, President Asif Ali Zardari, Faryal Talpur, Bibi Aseefa Bhutto Zardari and Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.

He said that the PPP is the only party whose workers have not only sacrificed their lives, but also the top leadership had offered martyrdom for the nation. He said that the PPP made the country a nuclear power.