'U-turn PM’ can’t make G-B a province: Bilawal

PPP chairman says his party will resolve the region’s issues ‘on priority basis’ if comes into power

ABOTTABAD:

Pakistan People Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari while calling the prime minister “interim” claimed that Imran Khan will not fulfil his promise of making Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) a province.

“How an interim prime minister can deliver a province to the people of Gilgit Baltistan. Imran Khan takes U-turn from all his promises and he will do this again,” he said while addressing corner meetings in various areas of the region on Monday ahead of the G-B election.

نگرکے علاقے نگرخاص میں چیئرمین پاکستان پیپلز پارٹی بلاول بھٹو زرداری کی آمد، جلسہ گاہ میں تاحد نگاہ عوام کا ہجوم اس بات کا واضح ثبوت ہے کہ عوام اب ان نالائق، نااہل اور سلیکٹڈ حکمرانوں کو گھر بھیج کررہے گی۔@BBhuttoZardari #NagarMainTeerChalega pic.twitter.com/YbkWE27l5P

— PPP (@MediaCellPPP) November 9, 2020

 

PM Imran during his recent visit to G-B had announced to grant full provincial status to the region while keeping in view the UN Security Council resolutions related to the Kashmir region.

PPP leaders including Senator Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar, Sherry Rehman, Jamil Ahmed Soomro, Faisal Karim Kundi, among others accompanied the party chief.

Bilawal after listening the issues of G-B residents, assured them of resolving them on priority basis if his party wins the elections.

The PPP leader said his party bound with people of the region can be traced back to the three-generation.

“I have come here to complete the mission of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto had envisioned for the people of G-B.”

G-B was made an interim province in 2009 when then president Asif Ali Zardari elevated the status of the region which empowered the locals, he added.

The PPP stalwart urged the people to be wary of his rival party, the ruling PTI, saying PM Imran will withdraw all special grants and subsidises on food items being given to the people of the region.

“[PM] Imran Khan has already reduced the quota of wheat to G-B and wants to withdraw the subsidy in the garb of making region the full-fledged province but the PPP will never let him do that,” he added.

He also claimed that PTI-led government wanted to increase taxes in G-B and laid off hundreds of employees from the Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC), pledging to reinstate all those employees if come into power. “We will deliver all your rights you deserve.”

Bilawal said the PPP-led government increased salaries and pensions of government employees and fulfilled all its promises made to the people before elections. “We will establish government hospitals in G-B like Sindh.”

All segments of the society in the country are on the streets protesting against the incumbent government, he said. “A farmer was even martyred due to baton charge on the protesting growers,” he said while referring to a recent protest held by farmers against the Punjab government.

“The people of G-B are with the party of martyrs and not with the U-turn. On 15 November the PPP will win the election and form the government,” Bilawal said, adding that when the PTI-led government realised that it is losing election in the region, their ministers in frustration started using foul language against women.

Bilawal condemned the offensive remarks passed by sitting minister Ali Amin Gandapur against PML-N vice-president Maryam Nawaz saying the act was against the tradition of G-B.