PPP welcomes PDM in Karachi: Bilawal

Says alliance leaders informed about constitutional way of organising rallies

KARACHI:

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Tuesday welcomed the decision of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) to begin its political activities in Karachi as the opposition alliance has announced anti-government public meetings and rallies around the country.

Speaking to media persons, Bilawal, flanked by Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah and Administrator Murtaza Wahab, said that his party had informed the PDM leaders about the constitutional way of doing things, therefore, they have the right to organise rallies.

The PPP chairman said that his party also desired to give a tough time to the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), adding that his party had relentlessly carried on with resisting the incumbent government since it came to power in August 2018.

Earlier this week, the PDM leaders had announced holding a public gathering in Karachi on August 29 as part of their efforts to resurrect the idea of preparing “Charter of Pakistan” which contains its proposals to resolve problems being faced by the nation and aims at establishing a true constitutional and democratic system in the country.

Bilawal asserted that the people of Sindh recognised that both the PTI and the MQM have neither done anything on their own nor let anyone else do it.

The Bhutto scion also laced into Prime Minister Imran Khan for not providing "a single drop of water" to Karachi, saying that the Centre had done nothing for the development in Sindh. "Imran Khan neither provided Sindh with a single drop of water nor did he lay a single [development] brick in the last three years," he added.

Whereas his party tried to address the water issues confronted by the Sindh "using the province's own resources". "And the citizens of Karachi are a witness to the efforts undertaken by the Sindh government."

He alleged that the incumbent government's policies were rendering people jobless and depriving them of their sources of income. "PM Imran Khan’s incompetence has led to a rise in unemployment in the country."

Speaking about the government’s move to hold the next general elections through the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), the PPP chairman questioned their feasibility, saying that the government “cannot even deal with the Results Transmission System (RTS)”.

Bilawal reiterated his party’s grievances and reservations, alleging that the ruling PTI was going to extreme lengths to facilitate “stealing of the votes” in the next general elections “as it can foresee its defeat”.

"How can we accept PTI's unilateral ordinance?" he asked, adding that the electoral reforms cannot take place without taking on board all parties and considering their grievances.

In response to a question regarding the local government elections, Bilawal asserted that the party was ready to hold the new local body polls as soon as its reservations over the 2017 census and constituencies’ issues were resolved.