Bilawal blasts ‘blood sucking lion’

PPP chairman boosts of party’s 10-point manifesto

SARGODHA:

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Wednesday continued his criticism of PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif -- without mentioning his name and instead referring to him using his party’s electoral symbol of the ‘tiger’ -- claiming that the three-time former premier would suck the blood of the people if he came to power yet again.

Addressing an election rally at the Siddiq Shaheed Stadium in Bhalwal, Bilawal accused Nawaz of only seeking an opportunity to become the prime minister for a fourth time.

Bilawal quipped that if the PPP came to power, it would establish a hospital in Raiwind [where the traditional residence of the Sharif family is located] for heart diseases.

The PPP chairman said Pakistan faced a plethora of crises. “We are facing many several crises, including a dwindling economy, poverty, unemployment and inflation, [and] we are also facing a democracy crisis. Our entire society is [engulfed] in crises,” he added.

Bilawal maintained that the country’s aged politicians were engaged in the politics of hatred and division, which had split the whole society.

“A brother is pit against own brother. Pakistanis are being [manipulated] into fighting each other. [So] We have decided that we will fight for the unity of Pakistan and bury the politics of hatred and division,” he told the gathering.

Highlighting the plight of the downtrodden people, the PPP chairman said today farmers were not receiving the actual price of their crops, labourers were not paid enough for their hard work and youth were not finding jobs.

He continued that earning a livelihood had become difficult, but no other political party had realised the plight of the people.

“They are worried about their seats so that somehow they can come to power for the fourth time,” Bilawal said, taking a jibe at Nawaz.

“I am contesting these elections because [Bilawal’s maternal grandfather] Quaid-e-Awam Shaheed [Zulfikar Ali] Bhutto has given this ideology and manifesto. [Bilawal's mother] Shaheed Benazir Bhutto has given us such an ideology, which contains solutions to all the problems. I am contesting these elections on my [own] manifesto,” he added.

Highlighting his 10-point electoral agenda which focused on inflation, poverty, and unemployment, Bilawal said he had proposed solutions to these issues, claiming that if the PPP came to power, it would make the country flourish again.

“If you stamp on the ‘arrow’ [the PPP’s electoral symbol] and ensure the victory of the [Pakistan] People’s Party, I promise you that this agenda will be followed. This 10-point agenda must be conveyed to every person to ensure that their vote is not wasted,” he continued.

Read: Contesting to 'bury old politics of hate': Bilawal

Youth appeal and ambitious plans to combat climate change form the core of Bilawal’s efforts to become the prime minister, which, if successful, would make him the country’s youngest premier since his mother Benazir took over the post.

As general elections on February 8 approach closer, the 35-year-old, a former foreign minister and scion of a family that gave the nation two prime ministers, called for new ideas and leadership to tackle political and economic instability.

“The implications of the decisions made today are going to be faced by the youth of Pakistan,” Bilawal told Reuters in Larkana.

“I think it would be better if they [youth] were allowed to make those decisions,” he added.

Bilawal said he had a concrete plan to provide free-of -charge electricity and boost social safety programmes, despite fiscal constraints.

“What we propose is to completely restructure Pakistan’s development model, putting the threat of climate change front and centre,” he said, referring to the PPP’s manifesto.

If Bilawal won the election, calculations show he could be just 25 days short of his mother’s age on entering the office in 1988.

“I haven’t actually counted, but ... I think she was the youngest,” he responded, when asked how he rated his chances.

The PPP chairman ruled out joining hands with any other contender. However, Bilawal said he preferred to form a government with independent candidates.

“You know, a lot of independent politicians, probably the highest [number] in our history, are taking part in the coming elections,” he added.

Most of the independents belong to Imran Khan’s PTI, which lost the right to contest the elections as a party this month after the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) declined to accept its intra-party polls and took away its electoral symbol of the ‘cricket bat’.

Asked about PML-N supremo Nawaz, Bilawal responded: “He’s certainly giving the impression that he is relying on something other than the people of Pakistan to become the prime minister for the fourth time.”

(WITH INPUT FROM REUTERS)