PPP minister warns of 'surrounding Bani Gala' if Centre renames BISP

Alleges PTI is cashing in on programmes initiated by previous governments for promoting itself

KARACHI: The Sindh government has decided to protest against the federal government amid reports of it intending to change the name of the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), remove her picture from BISP cards and even end the social protection programme altogether, which have been surfacing since past year.

Anticipating that such a move by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-led federal government was in the offing, Sindh Agriculture Minister Muhammad Ismail Rahoo warned on Saturday that they would "surround Bani Gala" in protest if this happened. He claimed the incumbent government was planning to dissociate former prime minister Benazir Bhutto's name from the programme out of fear.

The agriculture minister further slammed the government for "not even sparing martyrs due to its blind hatred," and demanded of Prime Minister Imran Khan to give a reason for "him fearing Benazir's name" being associated with the programme.

"He [the PM] should also give an explanation for changing BISP's name and removing Benazir's picture from the cards," the agriculture minister said, adding, "A ruler who hates women can never become a [successful] leader."

Rahoo said that even if the federal government removed Benazir's picture from the cards, it wouldn't be able to erase her memories from the hearts and minds of the people.

He called for democratic quarters to oppose the move, which would be akin to the Centre "asking for trouble." The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) minister reckoned, "The federal government will not achieve anything out of changing BISP's name and the decision will only bring it disgrace."

Rahoo also accused PTI of cashing in on programmes initiated by previous governments for promoting itself.

These speculations about BISP's name being changed first surfaced in April last year, when the PM gave the nod to consider the suggestion following requests made by PTI allies during a visit to Ghotki. The requests were made on the basis of PPP allegedly misusing the social protection programme.

However, the PM's response to the request drew PPP's ire and created uproar in the party's ranks. Many members of PPP even accused the Centre of hatching a conspiracy to end crucial support to poor segments of society, The Express Tribune reported earlier.

The PPP chairperson had said the reported name change of BISP was a "conspiracy" by the prime minister, who he alleged wanted to end the programme.

Moreover, two different resolutions were submitted to the legislative assemblies by PPP lawmakers, demanding the federal government refrain from taking any such action.

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi had taken a separate stance on the issue from that of his party. "Personally, I am not in favour of changing the name of BISP," he had said. "It is a legislative matter and a legal process must be followed in this case."

Speaking along similar lines, BISP chairperson Dr Sania Nishtar had said the scheme was introduced through a parliamentary act and its name could not be changed without making an amendment to the act. "The government has neither presented any bill in parliament for amendment nor examined it at a high level," she had said.