PPP trying to save democracy, says Bilawal

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has said that those sitting in Islamabad were taking decisions about Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) but they do not listen to the people, stressing that his party is endeavouring to save democracy from a hybrid system.

Addressing a convention of the party workers in the Ghanche district, Bilawal said that the “incompetent selected” government had destroyed Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and now the PPP would “have to save” Gilgit-Baltistan.

“The people of Gilgit-Baltistan should not believe in [Prime Minister] Imran Khan’s statements and propaganda. He will destroy your youth as he has destroyed the future of young doctors,” he told the party workers. “We are fighting a hybrid system.”

Bilawal said that the PPP government was providing the best health facilities in Sindh. “We are providing free liver transplant facility in Gambat tehsil of Sindh. The people of Punjab and other provinces are benefiting from this facility,” he added.

“Like Sindh, Gilgit-Baltistan will also provide the best education and health facilities. We will provide education for everyone up to the university level. We’ll build universities and campuses to educate the G-B youth,” he said.

He said the G-B region produces quality fruits. “We will build fruit processing plants and cold storage in Gilgit-Baltistan so that people from all over the country and the world can have a chance to taste the best fruits here.”

Bilawal’s visit to G-B comes as the region prepares for general election on November 15. Bilawal said the PPP was launching its election campaign from this district. He asked the party workers to go door to door to convey the party manifesto of prosperity, rights and development to the people.

“The PPP had made some promises to the people of Gilgit-Baltistan in its manifesto for the 2018 elections and now we are renewing them,” he said. Bilawal also said: “The resolutions that your assembly will pass will be passed by the National Assembly.”

“Only PPP can take pro-poor and pro-people measures,” he said, adding that solution to all the problems lies in democracy and the PPP is struggling from the platform of PDM [Pakistan Democratic Movement] to save democracy from this puppet and hybrid system.”

Criticising the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government, Bilawal said that every Pakistani was worried because of inflation. “Sadly this puppet and selected government has [also] left the farmers destitute. The PPP is the only party that can solve the problems of the people,” he added.