Pakistan

Bilawal slams ‘traditional politics of electables’

Says those aligning with the 'Inflation League' will no longer be electables

Hidayatur Rehman Hoti November 17, 2023

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari addresses workers' convention in Mardan on November 17, 2023. PHOTO: PPP MEDIA CELL

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Friday took aim at traditional politics, saying that those aligning with the "Inflation League" will fail in the upcoming elections -- a thinly-veiled jab targeting the PML-N and its recent political manoeuvres.

During his address at a workers' convention in Mardan, Bilawal, flanked by party leaders Nayyar Bukhari, Mohammad Ali Shah Bacha and Umar Farooq, criticised the longstanding practices of seeking electables in politics.

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— Pakistan Peoples Party - PPP (@PPP_Org) November 17, 2023

Stressing the need for a departure from the 70-year-old traditional politics, Bilawal said there was a need to embrace a new political approach to address the nation's challenges.

He lamented that the existing political mindset was stagnated in the past and accused such politicians of lacking foresight. “Manifesto and ideology are very important in politics.”

Asserting confidence in PPP's victory in the upcoming elections, Bilawal reiterated the party's commitment to its slogans and manifesto, expressing optimism about success on February 8 and the party's capability to lead the federation. “The next prime minister will be a jiyala, we will run the federation.”

The PPP chairman underlined the PPP's historical representation of the underprivileged and vowed to continue this legacy. “We will not rest till every citizen sleeps with a full stomach, is clothed and has a roof sheltering them,” he said. “Our manifesto would be successful and the arrow would be victorious.”

‘Ending politics of hate, division’

Bilawal Bhutto also emphasised that it was not PPP’s principle to look left and right as it only looks to the people for guidance, saying it is the sole prerogative of the country's people to decide who should serve and represent them.

The PPP chairman also said that the people will have to bear the burden again if a selection takes place in the general elections slated to be held on February 8, adding that people have suffered through a selected regime in the past and are not willing to do so again.

He said that the PPP aims to put an end to the politics of hatred and division. “It is not in the PPP’s principles to look left and right, it only looks at the people for guidance,” the PPP leader said, “it is the sole prerogative of the people of the country to decide who should serve and represent them; the party is ready to accept the decision of the people.”