Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Friday vowed to oust the 'illegitimate' Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government saying its policies are dragging the country into a failed state. Addressing the party's rally organised to mark the 12th anniversary of Karsaz tragedy at M A Jinnah Road, Bilawal said giving more time to this 'incompetent' government would be tantamount to playing with the national integrity. "We will send this government back home with support of public."
PPP chairman said the drive against revival of real democracy has been initiated from Karachi today. The party would hold a big rally in Tharparker on 23rd Oct, followed by Kashmore on Oct 26, and then from parts of Punjab by Nov 1st, he informed. "After holding rallies at parts of the country, we would go to Kashmir. You [Imran Khan] have to go home before we come back from Kashmir," PPP chairman threatened.
He alleged that PTI government has been chosen by selectors, not by public saying it has nothing to do with the resolution of public issues. Bilawal said he will expose the rigging of both, the selectors and the selected incumbent government they committed in 2018 general elections.
Questioning over the role of Election Commission of Pakistan, Bilawal said Pak Army and Rangers were deployed inside and outside of the poling stations, first time in the history of Pakistan, under the garb of security. This was aimed at making the state institutions controversial. Also, the results remained undeclared for three days.
He said the banned organisations were allowed to contest elections in the name of mainstreaming, while the political opponents were sent behind the bars depriving them of being part of democratic process. He said the country was going through a historic crisis. It can only be protected by ousting this selected government immediately, he emphasized.
PPP chairman also announced to challenge PS-11 Larkana-II by-election result where Moazam Ali Abbasi of Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) won the seat against PPP candidate Jameel Soomro. Bilawal paid tribute to the martyrs of Karsaz tragedy saying that PPP leadership and workers will always remember the martyrs who sacrificed their lives fighting dictators and terrorists bravely.
The deadly incident occurred on 18th Oct 2007, when Benazir Bhutto returned home from a self-imposed 9-year long exile and was leading a big procession from the airport to the city. Over 170 PPP activists lost their lives and hundreds suffered injuries when two bomb blasts ripped through the procession. It is relevant to mention here that the law enforcement agencies are still clueless about the perpetrators involved behind the deadly incident.
Two eyewitnesses - Khalid Shehenshah and Bilal Shaikh -, who had accompanied Benazir at Karsaz, have been killed suspiciously in separate incidents. Addressing the rally, PPP Karachi chapter's president Saeed Ghani said only PPP has been targeted by bombers and never been given chance to complete democratic tenure.
He slammed PTI over deviating from its promise of providing 10 million jobs and 5 million low cost houses. He claimed that PPP in its last tenure created 6 million jobs. Ghani also blamed PTI and NAB for the selected accountability only against the opposition party leaders, while the 'corrupt' elements within PTI are free from accountability. Senator Taj Haider on this occasion said the participants are gathered against the followers of dictators. He blamed the incumbent PTI-led federal government for the high inflation and unemployment.
"We are supporting Maulana Fazlur Rehman's call to oust this selected government and that's why we are initiating campaign from today," Taj said. He alleged that the Judiciary is being pressured by the government with filing references against credible judges, while media is also being suppressed.
Paying tribute to martyrs of Karsaz tragedy, PPP leader Shehla Raza said Bhutto is the name of philosophy which will remain alive as long as there is the voice of freedom and liberty. Earlier, PPP leaders and workers paid visits to the memorial of Karsaz martyrs, where they lit candles, offered fateha, and laid floral wreaths.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2019
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