Poll controversies will undermine Parliament: Bilawal

PPP chief urged workers to become party's strength and struggle for democracy in the country

HYDERABAD/ LAHORE: Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has warned that there will be implications for the Parliament if elections are made controversial.

"I have been raising objections again and again. [Even] international organisations are raising suspicions," he said, emphasising the electoral process should not be made controversial.

The PPP chairman also addressed rallies in Sehwan and Dadu later.

Despite his assertion, Bilawal skipped the question when asked to identify who is making the process controversial. "Currently I am focused on the election campaign. There are just two days left." But he underlined that in the long-term political forces have to address these apprehensions about providing level playing field to all candidates in the election.

"But as I have been saying earlier and now I am reiterating that the PPP believes that even a weak democracy is better than dictatorship," he underscored.

Bilawal deplored that he was not allowed to hold a scheduled public meeting in Nasserabad, Balochistan, and was even barred from visiting that district. "It's very sad that during this election campaign, national leadership can't go there. It's very unfortunate," he observed.

He contended that his recent campaign in Punjab has shattered media-created perception that his party has lost popular support in the province. He believed that especially the youth in Punjab is eager for a progressive and democratic leadership.



"I am not in this fight not for one day or one election. This is a long fight," he observed.

Sharing the party's manifesto with supporters in Sehwan and Dadu, Bilawal asked the people to give majority mandate so the PPP can serve them with ease. He said the PPP's contest is not against a political party or politician, but against deprivation, poverty, and for social justice.

The PPP chief also slammed the Grand Democratic Alliance and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, "What type of change can they bring if they keep changing their flags and symbols every election," he said referring to the GDA. Bilawal stressed that the puppet alliances only make puppet governments which do not serve the people but the powers which facilitate their rule.

He said his grandfather Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and mother Benazir Bhutto fulfilled the promises which they made to the nation. "I have embarked on a sacred mission [and] I am starting my political life. I have come out to complete the incomplete mission of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto and to fulfil her promise of protecting Pakistan."

Lahore rally

Meanwhile, the Bhutto scion while addressing a public gathering at NA-132, said his opponents passed their five years in government abusing and making false allegations against rivals.

“People have no other option except the PPP if they want to see a public government in the country,” said Bilawal adding that Punjab especially Lahore, is passing through an ideological crisis and it is the main reason that his party cannot deliver and solve public issues.



He asked citizens to vote for his party’s candidates across Punjab. “We have to save the politics of Punjab by our vote. People do not want to see a puppet government in the country,” he underlined.

The PPP chief further urged workers to become the party’s strength and struggle for democracy in the country, “Those who are afraid of democracy killed my mother and former PM Benazir Bhutto, but they failed to stop us in our mission of public service”.

Following his brief visit, PPP candidate for the constituency Samina Khalid Ghurki said workers and citizens of Lahore have proven that they haven’t forgotten Benazir.