Politics of reconciliation: PPP has strengthened Pakistan, says Kaira

Says party always got reins of power when the country was at the brink of disaster.

SUKKUR:

Country’s reins were always handed over to the PPP after thorough loot and plunder and when it was at the brink of disaster, said Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira, while addressing media in Sukkur on Wednesday.

“PPP has strengthened Pakistan,” Kaira said.

PPP following the politics of reconciliation stemmed the political and economic crises facing the country, he said.

People were talking about a possible Taliban attack on Islamabad, when PPP took over the country in 2008.

However, PPP got all the political parties together and helped pull the country out of the dangers of Talibanisation by creating a national consensus against militancy and terrorism.

He said that apart from the Taliban threat the PPP has succeeded in closing the chapter of coups.



“Today we are proud that democracy has taken roots in the country after being repeatedly sabotaged by dictators,” Kaira said.

On the debut of the political career of PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, he said, large number of people from across the country will reach Garhi Khuda Bux to pay homage to Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto.

Bilawal Bhutto Zardari will start his political career by addressing a mammoth gathering in Garhi Khuda Bux tomorrow, Kaira said.

Bilawal, like Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and his daughter, will enter politics at a young age. Bilawal is not going to contest election, but if he wants, he can win from anywhere, the entire country is his constituency, the information minister said.

Regarding Bilawal not being well versed in the local issues, Kaira said, when Benazir Bhutto entered politics everybody used to criticise her for the same reason. Her detracters used to say that Benazir cannot even speak Urdu. Similarly, he said, people will criticise Bilawal also, but he too will prove his worth in politics, the information minister said.

Without any compulsion or force people are thronging Garhi Khuda Bux only for their eternal love for Bhuttos, Kaira said.

“Today our opponents are saying that PPP has done nothing for the people, then how will its leaders go to the people to seek vote,” he said asserting that PPP has tried to address core issues like availability of staple grain.

He reminded that during the previous regime there were recurrent wheat and sugar crises, people used to stand in long queues to buy wheat flour, “now due to revolutionary economic policies we are exporting wheat and sugar.”

He pointed out the biased views and prejudiced opinions held against President Zardari. The Supreme Court of Pakistan allowed former President Musharraf to be a contestant in presidential election while being a serving army officer, but today people are objecting to the dual office of President Zardari.

He said, by becoming president of the country, Asif Ali Zardari occupied the palace from where conspiracies used to be hatched against the democratic governments.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 27^th, 2012.