Bilawal decries ‘traditional politicians’

Claims Lahore belongs to neither ‘sportsman’ nor ‘businessman’

LAHORE:

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has said that Lahore does not belong to either a “sportsman” or “a businessman” in an apparent reference to his political rivals – PTI founder Imran Khan, a former cricketer, and PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif, a former businessman – before their entry into politics.

"This is the city of [PPP founder] Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, but these people believe that by assassinating Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Benazir Bhutto, and the Jiyalas, they will succeed in intimidating us. They are mistaken. We will defeat them on their home turf,” Bilawal said.

The PPP chief expressed these views on Sunday while addressing corner meetings at the NA-127 constituency of Lahore. Bilawal said he is contesting elections from the same city where Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto contested elections.

“They ask us why we have come to Lahore? We ask them why they ruled over Lahore? It was General Ziaul Haq, General Hamid Gul, and General Faiz Hameed who imposed these politicians on Lahore and Punjab,” he said.

Bilawal said he is doing politics in this city because of the sacrifices of Jiyalas, a word used to refer to PPP workers. “We do politics for the poor, laborers, and the white-collar class. We do politics for the hardworking people of this city, so we seek support from the people, and we only believe in the people."

He told the party workers that they should go door to door and propagate the PPP’s manifesto, delivering its ten-point economic agenda to the people.

Read Bilawal dismisses ‘polls delay’ notion

“God willing, we will implement every point of this agenda. Within five years of coming into power, we'll double salaries, provide free electricity up to 300 units for the poor, and offer standardized education and healthcare facilities so that those who travel to London for treatment can have the same international standard of care here," he said.

He said Bhutto introduced the five-marla scheme, while Benazir introduced the seven-marla scheme. “When we come into power, we will build 3 million houses for the people, registered in the name of women. Additionally, we will regularize informal settlements across the country."

The PPP chief expressed resolve to expand the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) and introduce worker cards, farmer cards, and youth cards. He also pledged to initiate a hunger eradication programme.

He claimed that the traditional politicians practice politics of hatred, division, and revenge, representing the aristocracy, while the PPP speaks for the oppressed.

“We will change the fate of the country. The PPP is an alternative to traditional politics, led by the youth. Insha'Allah, we will win. It will be a victory for justice, a victory for Benazir Bhutto, a victory for Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, a victory for the people, your victory, and the victory of the people of Lahore," he said.