As the downpour showered both criticism and opportunity on PPP's decade-long rule, Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Monday sought to inject vigour into his rain-battered campaign, offering an umbrella of promises to remedy the metropolis’ long-festering governance issues – a problem laid bare once again by showers amid electioneering heat.
The Bhutto scion promised that if Karachi elected PPP candidates from 20 National Assembly seats, the city's landscape would be unrecognisable within five years, turning its fortunes around.
His statement came as Karachi – his party’s fortress – came to a standstill due to rain amid the electoral campaign. Three people lost their lives due to the heavy rainfall, which also resulted in flooding in both residential and commercial areas of the city. This led to power outages and the failure of the traffic management system.
Reacting to Karachi's urban flooding, PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif, earlier taunted by Bilawal on governance, quipped that if Lahore mirrored Karachi's situation after rain, he would have withdrawn from the electoral race!
Thank you Kemari! I am a son of Karachi and want to do great things for our city. The people of Karachi want an end to the ethnic and religious division and hatred that has held the progress of this city ransom for decades. A vote for the Peoples Party is a vote to end it once… pic.twitter.com/Pu4FENNzZu
— BilawalBhuttoZardari (@BBhuttoZardari) February 5, 2024
‘Change for 20 NA seats’
As part of his electoral campaign, Bilawal addressed the public in various areas of Karachi on Monday, delivering speeches in the form of rallies.
Speaking at a gathering in Keamari’s PT Ground, he expressed his vision for the city, emphasising the potential changes that would take place if the people choose PPP representatives.
"If the people of Karachi elect my representatives, then like local government, the provincial government will also be in our hands, and with your votes, even the federal government will be in our hands," Bilawal declared during his speech.
"Give 20 [NA] seats to PPP, and then within five years, we will change Karachi. We will form our government at the federal level and work on historic projects in Karachi. This city will be given representation as it deserves."
Bilawal assured that the provincial cabinet of Sindh would grant Karachi its due rights, and together, they would serve the city. He urged the residents of the city to be aware and not vote for those who seek to divide and spread hatred based on religion or language.
The PPP chairman remarked that on February 8th, people should vote against all elements that indulge in politics of hatred and violence. He expressed confidence that their elected representatives would work in the city, providing opportunities for progress and ensuring equal opportunities for women.
"My and my mother's birth took place in Karachi. This city is like my home, and serving Karachi means serving my home. I will serve my home in the best possible way, and I will instruct your representatives to stand by you in every joy and sorrow," Bilawal added.
Read more: Bilawal wary of joining forces with Nawaz following polls
‘No alliance post-polls’
Separately, the former foreign minister ruled out the possibility of forming an alliance with PML-N following polls.
“It [PML-N] is no longer a party that says [the slogan] respect the vote (vote ko izzat do) or that agrees to Charter of Democracy but rather it has become the one which was part of IJI,” Bilawal said in an interview with Voice of America
IJI or Islami Jamhoori Ittehad was an alliance formed in 1988 to oppose the PPP in the elections that year. It comprised nine parties including the PML-N, which at that time was called PML.
"This is the PML-N that dreams of becoming 'Amir-ul-Momineen,' so it is very difficult for me to continue with the PML-N."
He accused Nawaz of exerting pressure on the administration to manipulate the elections, alleging that the caretaker government and administration were favouring the former prime minister.
“The caretaker prime minister was appointed following deliberations between Shehbaz Sharif and Raja Riaz and now Raja Riaz was contesting elections on a PML-N ticket,” he added.
Expressing concern over the arrest of their supporters in Sindh by FIA, Bilawal said that attempts by PML-N to divide the political structure would fail.
Also read: PPP faces backlash from rivals
To reduce the role of the establishment in politics, Bilawal suggested that the first step must be taken by politicians themselves, urging political leaders to confine their differences within the political arena.
The former foreign minister emphasised that politicians should adhere to the rules and principles of politics. “If we don’t work within our limits and cross it then we should not expect others not to cross their limits as well,” he said in an apparent reference to the military establishment.
Bilawal pointed out that the May 9 incident was not within the boundaries of politics and stressed the need for politicians to establish a code of conduct and all should adhere to it.
لائیو: چیئرمین پاکستان پیپلز پارٹی بلاول بھٹو زرداری شیری جناح کالونی پر ریلی کے شرکاء سے خطاب کررہے ہیں۔ https://t.co/vknj6XLQne
— Pakistan Peoples Party - PPP (@PPP_Org) February 5, 2024
"If Nawaz Sharif becomes the prime minister, we will see what ideology he pursues. The PML-N is currently pursuing politics of hatred and division. If Nawaz Sharif wants to leave this path, he should abandon this policy,” he said.
Bilawal said that the party wanted transparent elections and hoped that despite Nawaz Sharif's pressure, the caretaker government would not interfere in the elections.
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