Zardari, Bilawal threaten to topple PTI govt

GARHI KHUDA BAKHSH/ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and his father, party co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari, have issued stark warnings to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), threatening to oust the government if the 18th Amendment is repealed or efforts made to impose a “one-unit system” in the country.

“Bhutto Shaheed had said that if a one-unit [system] was brought, then he would just kick it away. Today, I say if the 18th Amendment is rolled back or efforts are made to impose one unit, I will end your government,” he said, during a combative address on the 40th death anniversary of executed party founder and former premier Zulfikar Ali Bhutto

on Thursday.

Bilawal excoriated Prime Minister Imran Khan for reportedly saying in Ghotki the Centre had gone bankrupt due to the 18th Amendment. “The Benami Prime Minister is unaware that strong provinces are signs of a strong Centre,” the PPP chairman said. “We will never allow the end of Shaheed Bhutto’s Constitution. We made provinces strong through the 18th Amendment.”

He also attacked the Premier’s reported statements about Sindh. “The puppet Prime Minister said in Ghotki that he ‘does not need Sindh’. Who are you? Sindh does not need you,” Bilawal said angrily.

“They want Sindh’s resources, gas and water, but we will save the rights of Sindh,” he added. He said with the provision of Rs120 billion, “we could have given employment to the unemployed youth. New schools could have been opened and new hospitals could have been constructed”.

Bilawal also slammed the government’s economic policies. “Electricity tariff has been enhanced but there is no electricity. The finance minister [Asad Umar] is saying that due to his policies people will cry and moan. This minister is also unaware of agriculture. Is he a federal minister or an economic terrorist — who is killing labourers, farmers, pensioners and the unemployed due to the price hikes?”

Taking aim at the ongoing accountability drive, the PPP chairman said: “The accountability process is based on political victimisation and engineering. Money laundering cases took place in Sindh and should be heard here. There is no law under which it could be shifted to Rawalpindi. Don’t hide your sins in the name of accountability.”

Before Bilawal spoke, his father, Asif Ali Zardari urged his party’s supporters to “march towards Islamabad” and oust the government. “Before the elections, I told you they want to repeal the 18th Amendment,” Zardari said. “That is why they are lodging cases against us.”

He said: “Now you have seen that the ‘selected’ Prime Minister’s [bubble] has burst. He [Imran Khan] says he does not have funds. If you cannot collect funds through the FBR (Federal Board of Revenue) then leave.”

He added: “It is time for us to march towards Islamabad and oust them [government]. I don’t want to do this because I want to be in power; [it is because] he (Prime Minister Khan) has already taken the country 50 years back. If we allow him to remain, he will take us 100 years back.”

Reacting to the speeches, Federal Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry said if Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was alive today, he would have announced a protest march against the corruption of present-day PPP. “If the PPP respects the courts, why and against whom have they announced their protest?”

Chaudhry advised the PPP leadership to protest against their “own corruption”. He said when the “corruption addicts” are treated, they resist the treatment. “Today’s PPP is as much related to Zulfikar Ali Bhutto as is Nawaz Sharif’s PML-N linked with Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah.”

He added: “How long will the PPP leadership use the names of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto for their personal gain?” Chaudhry added speeches and threats would not save them from the accountability process.