"We don't accept the law of terrorists," says Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari. PHOTO: ONLINE/FILE
THATTA: Patron in chief of Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Saturday accused the Taliban of trying to drag the Pakistan back to the "stone-age."
Addressing a gathering in Makli Stadium during the closing ceremony of a two-week cultural festival in Sindh, Bilawal urged the country to rise up against threats.
"The Taliban want to impose the law of terror in the country, but I want to tell them, if you have to live in Pakistan you will have to follow its Constitution," he said.
"We don't accept the law of terrorists" he added. "Some people are trying to bring back the stone-age era in the country in the name of Islam."
Terming Sindh as the Bab-ul-Islam, because the advent of Islam in sub-continent was through the province, criticised those who were trying to spread it by force.
"No one can teach them about preaching of Islam," Bialwal said, adding that Islam teaches peace and tranquility.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's government has been under fire from political opponents for failing to mount a strong response to the upsurge in attacks, as it tries to broker a peace deal.
The government has for months built ground for talks with the Taliban, but the head of Pakistan’s second largest political party spoke in favour of military action against them on Saturday.
While the talks are still in a stage of infancy, there were some initial advances with all sides agreeing to halt violent activity for the duration of the talks.
"The terrorists should think of the time when the whole nation will stand against them," Bilawal added.
"We are Muslims and the terrorist groups should not try to teach us Islam."
The PPP patron in chief said that enemies of the country had launched terrorism, but the Sindh festival had brought smiles on the faces of the people all over Pakistan.
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Bilawal is the only sane voice in Pakistan. He has the vision and ability to pull Pakistan out of crisis. Well said Bilawal, the only one on national level with this clarity of vision. of the new generation of Politicians in Pakistan this kid is certainly a pleasant suprize he is showing his Pedigree. Unlike Shabaz Hamza, or Mariam Nawaz the poor lady in waiting !. At least he has the guts to say what is Right !
What he meant - Some people are trying to bring back the stone age in Pakistan.... but cant you see thats what my family have been tryng to achive for 3 generations?!?!?!
@Sanity: whatever it was but we know only one thing that biggest threat to the land of pure is from Taalibaan (as the deaths and fianncia; losses is more than two wars with India) so any one speking against these monsters is our leader, a corrupt brave man is acceptable who can fight against them but we hate from those who pretend to be honest and sincere but they are afraid from non state actors. those who can not name the killers of this nation are rejected. Sorry PTI troll.....
@Muhammad: yeah he is so clear about his vision that he never talks against corruption that has brought the country down on its knees. Before the advent of zardari senior government in 2008 total debt on country was Rs. 6000 billion at the departure of senior zardari government in 2013 the total debt on the country had skyrocketed to Rs. 14000 billion. Would you please ask your "leader" to find out wher did the Rs. 8000 billion go ? as the country stood in tatters at after the worst corrupt government of his party????
@ali: wow and what did his father's government do during last six years besides looting this country??? why does he not condemn senior zardari's government for looting the country and not doing anything against spread of taliban terrorism especially in Karachi???
@Khadim Karrar: junior zardari is so "hoshiar" you would never hear him utter even a single simple word against corruption.
It was his grandfather who sow the seed of religious discrimination and sectarianism in Pakistan by declaring Ahmadis as non-Muslims. That's where everything started. So if he wants to portray himself as secular he needs to condemn his grandfather's action.
The corruption party government did nothing to check and stop the spread and dominance of taliban terrorists in Karachi as they are now said to be holding sway over 40% of the city. Would the number 2 superman enlighten us why he does not criticize his own corruption party government before howling at others???
Bilawal talks about going back to the stone age. What is he doing for the people for the people of interior sindh? the poor villagers and indentured farm workers who are already living in the stone age. This sindhi culture thing is just a well planned ploy to make a foreigner like bilawal seem like a local politician.
Good bold speech. PPP will have to show statesmanship to .achieve objective which is impossible without compromising with MQM. The policy of MAFHMAT is good but not pursued honestly.
TANHA NA KAT SAKENGE JAWANI KE RASTAY PESH AYEGI KISIKI ZAROORAT KABHI KABHI
@ Demeanor Agree. The word ' BILAWAL ' means :- ' One without Equal ' Bilawal has ample time to contest the elections. With the passage of time, the nation is getting aware of the day to day politics. Bilawal of today would not be worth even the dust of a camel in a desert. His education from the Oxford would be of no use to convince the down trodden people of any constituency in the interior sindh where his fore fathers had hardly contributed towards education. Ideally, to be more successful, an experience from 'Hollywood' would contribute more to his political career and facing for a dialogue with the TTP.
@lkhan: I Khan i can not appreciate your comments properly.I lack words for it.But what can anyone do when KUCHH LOGON KO KISI SAY KHUDA WASTAY KA BAIR HO.YEH LOG TALIBAN SAY KAM NAHIN
The only all -weather road in the place where the Bhuttos live is the one leading to their home. Surrounding the Bhuttos and Waderas of Sindh, is a sea of poverty. These self proclaimed leaders cannot even find a job for themselves in the open market. They shout at speeches to compensate for their failings. The Sindhi's are the most deprived people in Pakistan. The C.M of Sindh is the most impotent person in Pakistan's' history. These people scratch each others back all the time. The entourage accompanying them are like court jesters, dancing and prancing in front of them, to get noticed for their fervor. The day Pakistan has got rid of these self made rulers, that day will be the day of rejuvenation. Remove Zardari, Bilawal, Gilani, Shariff brothers and their no good children and you will have real peace and progress in Pakistan.
@Be Careful: It is naive to expect a feudal lord to make attempts to do away with feudalism.
@Demeanor: More like the character in Maula Jat or Sher Khan or Wehsi Gujjar?
His posing reminds one of Sultan Rahi
The guavas of Larkana are wonderful. Why not make it a symbol of PPP?
People would repose trust in Bilawal if he also makes attempts at doing away with feudalism, through true land reforms.
Good! Let Bilawal also declare "jihad" against feudalism.
Sindh is already in stone age, just hope if Bilawal could even focus on Interior Sindh at least, Education, Roads infrastructure, women's right etc. I recently worked in rural punjab and was amazed to see good road network in rural areas, strong education network and Punjab government even supporting private schools where Government school is not present nearby.
Why is he desperately trying to imitate ZAB or BB in the way he is making speeches? Next question is that PPP has been in government for sooooooooooooo long. What have they done for people of Larkana. If we judge this by PML N OK they have changed and invested in Lahore. So if we measure the same for PPP, what can they show for Larkana.
Are there a decent road network, are there any good hotel, are there any large industries, schools, universities, etc?
Who has taken us to the stone ages? Please look under your own branded hi-label skin.
His father in fact provided space to the Taliban to be proliferated in all over the country.For years, Zardari avoided to take concrete steps to curb them.Bilawal is making speaches, if he were in power, he would also ready to be calm and cool toward Taliban. "Loose lips always slips".
@Saleem: In case you were not aware, it was his father who declared for the first time the taliban as terrorists in Pakistan - you do not hear IK or NS addressing them as such even today. It was his father's government that launched the cleansing of Swat of the taliban who had been allowed to swamp the area and impose their brutal laws, under Musharraf, the commando. It was his father's party that implemented a policy of close collaboration of the ministry of interior with the intelligence services, the sharing of information to capture thousands of these brutal thugs; while in the Punjab, under the Sharif brothers they were given impunity and even today many who should be behind bars for the killings of innocent citizens and our forces, walk free. The list goes on of all his father did without publicity, yet good for the country.This family, because of its strong belief that there is no place for terrorism in our nation, has paid an extremely high price - if you are serious and objective, do read Mohtarma B Bhutto's posthumous book - not only her knowledge of Islam but her moderate sensible ways that unfortunately our country lacks in its present leaders - that are being carried forward by Bilawal, is not only bravery but a sense of love for his country that ought to be appreciated, given that he and his family are under the threat of death, and have paid an immeasurably high price for. I say three cheers for this brilliant man, and pray he will lead our country out of this senseless abyss.
Those of you saying it's easy to speak against extremism so Bilawal doesn't deserve credit for doing that should ask themselves why is it that Nawaz and company aren't denouncing extremism as clearly as Bilawal is? Why is the deafening silence from their side?
Excellent speech no doubt. Other "leaders" should learn a thing or two from young Bilawal. Meanwhile Bilawal should urge PPP to improve its performance in Sindh.
While most rightwing leaders are representing the demands of TTP and other terrorists, there is one voice in Pakistan which is loud and clear. The reason other leaders and TTP friends are hateful of Bilawal is he is a much better Urdu speaker than his grandfather and public liked his style and speeches. In more than half of our history military dictators have plundered the country at will. Yet people of Sindh, and Baluchistan are deprived of education, healthcare, jobs and other basic necessities. The better part of our revenue is wasted in hundreds of nuclear warheads, and expensive war toys and perks. The people of Sindh and Bluchistan know who their real enemies are and who have been killing their leaders and keeping them backward. It is ironic that those enemies of smaller provinces keep telling Sindh who is their friend as if the population has no common sense.
Bilawal and his PPP is a bunch crap corrupt politicians, who want to use this tense situation to gain sympathy. Bilawal you can fool us sometime but not all the time.
that's the only thing Pakistani politicians are good at..giving speeches. Actions speak louder than words. There is a big difference between hiding behind your computer screen on twitter and/or Facebook and actually doing something worthwhile. The day our politicians learn this, Pakistan may become a country once again and not a jungle for the lawless.
Is he not speaking out of turn. His father should tell him that the election campaign is now over and Mr Nawaz Sharif is in the captain's chair. If he has any objections to the Governments policies, he must behave like the opposition in the parliament. He must have observed during his stay in the UK how a democracy functions?
Rex Minor
I have no confidence in PPP performance and these statements are like like punching in the air. But One has to acknowledge the issue before any action can be taken. And this young has acknowledged and has guts to make these strong statement about the Taliban. This is very positive and hope all political parties will follow. This will be more effective than war or any empty peace talks.
would be nice if the policemen don't have to wait for 9 months before they can even get their paycheck. talk is cheap!
Isn't it funny how PPP is pushing Sindh into stone age by providing no education.
During my youth days I always had soft corner for PPP for the progressive ideology. Unfortunately, PPP leadership failed to stand up against the religious and right wing pressure groups. I am happy to see Bilawals for having very clear and unambiguous stand against these pseudo-custodians of Islam. Apart from MQM, ANP and some mard-e-monin kind of intellectuals, I pity all apologetic and coward leaders and intellectuals who try to justify the barbaric and lunatic acts of Taliban and their crony extremist groups. My cricket hero is my the biggest disappointment. I am sure if we get more leaders like Bilawal with very clear stand against Taliban, it will be easier to eradicate this cancer from our society, InshAllah.
Very good Bilawal.You are son of brave father and brave mother.We are with you.
Bilawal is far mature than any other politician in Pakistan particularly Imran Khan.
This kid had not emerged as a leader if Imran had not proven worthless.
Finally, a sensible person. Bravo. On the other hand, Mariam Nawaz should try to raise her public profile as well.
do not let him capitalize on fears, he is the son of mr 10% who considers his father his role model. His father blocked every effort to prosecute himself for swiss fund (probably in tens, if not hundreds of millions, stolen from poor people of Pakistan, which includes sindh)
it will be unfortunate if pakistanis will allow these criminals to continue representing them.
Seriously ......?
I know hes just another british kid but for once hes saying something that needs to be said aloud!
Interior Sindh is ALREADY stone-age , Bilawal sahib !!!
To be fair, PPP has already kept its strongholds of interior Sindh in the stone age, but I admire Bilawal for not mincing words on this crucial issue (unlike the leaders of the parties in power) regardless of his lack of political credibility.
I'm not a PPP fan, I would never vote for them but Bilawal gave a very moving speech.
I second him.
Well done Bilawal. This country is for the moderates, not the extremists. But pray tell me, where were you when the Governor of Punjab was pumped full of bullets by an extremist while Daddy was President. Why was an extremist, a murderer never brought to justice?
The fact is, my dear friend, that while most of us may be Muslims, we are appalled by the extremists within us. We know that the way to co-exist with the rest of the world in the long run is to encourage peace, tolerance and reject extremism. But like you have guts to get on stage and pump your fists about and speak out against the Taliban, I dare any member of your party, or your local Sindh Government to speak out or make any legislation against the bottom-less pit where we are being dragged.
If we're not already there, the time is coming, when there will be open war and bloodshed between those who believe that state and religion should be separate and between those that believe that religion should be everything - from how we dress, to how we talk to how we live. A war those who believe that religion is a personal matter and those who believe that religion should be enforced at State level. A war between liberals/moderates and extremists. Time to choose sides.
Bilawal, the whole nation is already talibanized. You words and wishes may be sincere but they are naive. You cannot have laws that discriminate on the basis of faith in your constitution on the one hand and on the other hand you blame the Talibans for their unjust ways. Freedom of religion came to the world 1500 years ago and on September 7, 1974 your grand father undid that. So what is the difference between the Talibans and the constitution of Pakistan?
Throws punches in air, spits in emotional outburst and goes away in his bulletproof car amidst thousands police officers. That is courage for you in case you forgot the recipe...!
I wish they had made better use of the money they spent on "festival"... They could have used the money to do something real for the people of Sindh; for example, supplying clean water to a village, providing the basic medical facility in a small taluka.. Is anyone listening??
Bilawal bhatti ho ya Bilawal bhutto . BILAWAL BILAWAL hota hai!