Imran’s incarceration ‘is not panacea for all ills’

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Monday voiced concerns about the multifaceted challenges plaguing the nation, emphasising that the incarceration of former prime minister and PTI chief Imran Khan alone could not overcome them.

In addition, the PPP chairman while sharing his views on the frequent arrests of PTI leader and former chief minister Chaudhry Parvez Elahi in different cases quipped that “it does not matter if one keeps his pet in a birdcage or anywhere else” – implying that Elahi’s incarceration was nothing but a smokescreen.

The scion of the Bhutto family while addressing a news conference in Okara said that he would be able to tell what kind of alliance the PPP was making or not making after the election date was announced.

At the moment, the PPP chairman said, the party’s Central Executive Committee (CEC) demanded election date and schedule.

The request to the ECP was to give election date and schedule, he said, so that “we can come out of these issues”.
During the news conference, Bilawal said that it was through the support of the people that the PPP along with other political parties was successful in achieving the goal of ousting “a puppet PM” – referring to Imran– through the constitutional and democratic tool of the no-confidence motion for the first time in the country’s history.

“Even now”, the PPP chairman and former foreign minister said, “the country is riddled with a plethora of issues that have not all been resolved solely through the imprisonment of Imran Khan”.

Today too, he incorporated, Pakistan was faced with an influx of issues, be it the remainders of the actions of the puppet PM, those on an international level, economic turmoil, law and order or terrorism.

Only a party that has prioritised the wellbeing of the common man, the farmer, labourer, youngster and those from all walks of life, over the elite or its own interest, could make conscious decisions and consider their implications on the average Pakistani, and this was the PPP.

PPP's track record

In 2008-13, Pakistan was facing food shortage, law and order situation, world recession, and was importing edibles despite being an agriculture country.

In that situation, the PPP started the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) to provide relief to the poor women of Pakistan. “We improved the agriculture and within a year, we started exporting wheat, sugar, and rice.”

Bilawal said the PPP represented the common people of Pakistan, not the elite. “Today, if we have to overcome this crisis then we the PPP will do it and once again, we will do it, God willing.”

Bilawal, the son of slain former prime minister Benazir Bhutto and grandson of former president Zulfikar Bhutto, said that the PPP could never be pushed to the wall.

“When Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was hanged, some people thought that the PPP will be pushed to the wall but no one could do so then.

“When Shaheed Benazir Bhutto was martyred, we did not retreat and ran an election campaign,” he incorporated, saying as far as the reservations of level-playing field, the PPP had empowered his father and ex-president Asif Ali Zardari to address them.

“If they are not addressed, then my hands will not remain tied,” he warned.

On the PML-N’s announcement that party supremo and three-time premier Nawaz Sharif would return to Pakistan from London after four years on Oct 21, Bilawal said that the PPP’s demand for return of Nawaz to the country was an old one.

To questions about incumbent PM Anwaarul Haq Kakar’s US visit, the PPP chairman said that if he had been in the cabinet, then he would have suggested to the prime minister that the foreign minister should be sent to the United Nations.

He said that the caretaker government had limited space to work generally and specially in foreign affairs.

On Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Qazi Faez Isa’s decision to take oath while making his wife stand with him, Bilawal said that the message of the chief justice standing with his wife at the time of taking oath was a powerful message.

“The saying goes that behind every successful man is a powerful woman,” he added. “Sarina Isa has proved that she is a powerful woman. This has sent a very good message.”

The PPP had a bitter experience with this institution, he said, adding they had good wishes for Justice Isa and hoped that this institution would improve.

“PPP will only suggest to Justice Isa that like PPP had left a legacy of Charter of Democracy (CoD), similarly he can leave a legacy. The judiciary has to restore its credibility,” he said.

“The philosophy of the party will remain Roti, Kapra aur Makan,” Bilawal said, adding that the PPP would design its economic programme for the benefit of the people. “The PPP will continue serving and looking after the labourers, growers and the downtrodden.”

The PPP chairman said that the PPP was constructing houses for the poor people of Sindh who were landless before and had become homeless after last year's flood.

The PPP would give two million women their own homes. “We have already started this programme.”
He said that he would turn 35 this month and knew the issues of the youth.

“I have seen the modern world and if we work hard together, we can make a modern world for ourselves,” Bilawal said, suggesting that the youth should be made a stakeholder in politics and economy.

The PPP gave the BISP card to women and “we can provide youth card to those who are looking for employment after receiving education and training”, he said, acknowledging that they needed support in the shape of experience for their first job.

“We have to create a positive environment for the youth. The youth is craving for knowledge. We can provide libraries and digital libraries to the youth. They need career counselling. We can help our youth. We have to teach different languages to them so that they can be able to work in different countries and we can provide such facility to our youth.”

Meanwhile, Bilawal demanded of the administration, government and the judiciary to provide justice to the family of Asif Baloch over the killing of his brother.

The PPP chairman offered condolences to Asif Baloch and his family. “The PPP is a family and is with the bereaved family during this difficult time.”

He said that he would personally contact the incumbent CM regarding this case with the hope that justice would be served.

Bilawal said that in the manner in which the Jiyalas of Okara received the PPP's long march with mammoth gatherings at various locations made it “apparent why Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto considered it a 'mini Larkana'”.