Contesting to 'bury old politics of hate': Bilawal

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Monday reiterated his rallying cry of “burying the old politics” and ushering in a new era to address the challenges faced by the people, asserting that only his party was able to do that.

Speaking at an election rally in Sahiwal, Bilawal, who is cruising through Punjab on a campaign trail, lashed out at other parties for engaging in divisive politics, accusing them of promoting hatred and animosity.

He warned that if these parties were to come into power, they would likely victimise their political opponents. “I am contesting to bury the politics of hate and division,” he asserted.

“Other parties want to divide us, whereas we are contesting elections on our manifesto … we will not use foul language against our political opponents,” the PPP chief added.

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Bilawal further reiterated that his party aimed to introduce a new era of politics centered around serving the people, asserting that the PPP would transform the nation's destiny within a single term without the need for four terms in government to fulfil their promises and reshape the fate of both the nation and the country.

"We should embrace a new form of politics, whose primary objective is to serve the people, farmers, labourers, youth, and the marginalised masses of the country. In these elections, only two parties are vying for your support. If you aspire to bury the politics of hate and division, then you must choose the PPP," the PPP chief stated.

If the people desire new leadership, then "they should stamp on the ‘arrow’ of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto. If they believe those adhering to traditional politics should step aside, then again, the symbol of the ‘arrow’ should be stamped”.

He went on to tout the PPP’s 10-point Awami economic agreement as a key strategy to tackle the country's problems.

The Bhutto scion invoked the ideologies of his late mother Benazir Bhutto and grandfather Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. “We need the ideology of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Shaheed Benazir Bhutto at this difficult period of our history.”

Bilawal said, "We will address poverty and inflation through the party’s agenda”, adding that the country needed to follow the same path as the late Zulfikar Ali Bhutto in caring for farmers, labourers, and youth, and confronting the challenges of poverty and inflation."

Bilawal also drew attention to the party's past initiatives, such as the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), designed to support women. He announced plans to not only extend this program but also provide interest-free loans to empower women to start their own businesses, contributing to the country's economy.

Also read: Bilawal decries ‘traditional politicians’

He pledged to introduce the "Benazir Kissan Card" for the farmers of Sahiwal and Pakistan. The PPP's philosophy has been "Kissan Khushhal, Pakistan Khushhal" (Happy farmer, prosperous Pakistan).

The former foreign minister further promised that his party would provide crop insurance for smaller farmers and offer financial assistance to them through the "Benazir Kissan Card," instead of providing a subsidy of Rs1500 billion to the elite.

“The PPP will provide help to the labourers through ‘Benazir Mazdoor Card’ so that they get their rights. This facility will be extended to every kind of labour force.”

The PPP chief further said that once elected, the party will also provide the "Youth Card" to the young population to assist them financially for a year and also aim to provide them training and other facilities to acquire expertise. “We will look after the youth until they get employment.”

“We think that health is the right of every citizen. We will provide a system of health which allows for the establishment of free healthcare institutions all over the country, a feat we have already achieved in Sindh. We will establish universities and campuses for the youth at their doorstep in their own district.”

These are all promises included in the 10-point Awami economic agreement, Bilawal added.

The PPP chairman then directed all those in attendance at the gathering to take the party’s manifesto to every doorstep and make them aware that the PPP is the only party which serves the people.

“You have to work hard and take this message to every brother and sister of Sahiwal in the next 18 days,” he said while addressing the party workers.

Bilawal said that he desired to complete the incomplete mission of Benazir Bhutto. “When the PPP will be victorious, the people will be victorious,” he added.