Pakistan

Survival in democracy, not in raising arms: Zardari

Ex-president says PPP suffered oppression but it never resorted to fighting

Our Correspondent January 29, 2024

Former president Asif Ali Zardari addressing a rally in Balochistan’s Hub on January 29, 2024. PHOTO: PPP MEDIA CELL

HUB:

Former president Asif Ali Zardari stressed the need for explaining to those elements in Balochistan who had taken up arms, that their survival lay in democracy.

Addressing an election rally in Hub, Zardari, also the president of the Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians (PPPP), said that the town was located at a one-hour drive from the country’s biggest city of Karachi, therefore it should have the facilities like a metropolis.

“Hub's budget is not visible here, maybe it has gone to the pockets of friends. There should be hospitals in Hub, there should be water facilities and universities. Hub should also be like Karachi,” Zardari told the gathering.

“Explain to the friends, who are taking up arms that your survival is in democracy. Improve law and order and bring peace, investors will come,” he said.

صدر پاکستان پیپلز پارٹی پارلیمنٹرینز صدر آصف علی زرداری پاکستان پیپلزپارٹی کے ضلع حب میں انتخابی جلسہ عام سے خطاب کررہے ہیں۔@AAliZardari #چنو_نئی_سوچ_کو pic.twitter.com/783w0p6Q1u
— PPP (@MediaCellPPP) January 28, 2024

He added that everyone here thought that he knew the solution to Pakistan's problems but in fact, only political forces knew the solution to the problems. “These great political powers that have been created or are being created will understand this,” he said.

Zardari said that the PPP suffered oppression but it never resorted to fighting. He assured that Baloch people would be given the right to their land. “Balochistan's survival lies in democracy,” he said, appealing to the people to vote for the PPP on the election day.

Earlier, local people gave a warm welcome to Zardari upon his arrival at the venue. PPP leaders, including former chief minister Qudous Bizenjo, Ali Hassan Zehri, Hassan Jamote, Wahab Bizenjo, Karim Marri, Sabir Baloch, Iqbal Shah and others were present in the rally.

لائیو: صدر پاکستان پیپلزپارٹی پارلیمنٹرینز آصف علی زرداری بلوچستان کے ضلع حب میں انتخابی جلسہ عام سے خطاب کررہے ہیں۔ https://t.co/9ez9uirbN8
— Pakistan Peoples Party - PPP (@PPP_Org) January 28, 2024