Larkana calling: Bilawal to contest polls from Benazir’s seat

PPP chief gives Rs100m for AJK, hands over 30 trucks with relief goods for Punjab

KARACHI: Pakistan Peoples Party Patron-in-Chief Bilawal Bhutto Zardari announced plans to contest the next general election from Larkana (NA-270) — the same constituency from where former prime minister Benazir Bhutto used to contest.

He was speaking during an informal gathering with journalists at Bilawal House on Monday. Sherry Rehman, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah, PPP Punjab leader Manzoor Watto, MPA Owais Muzaffar and Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon accompanied him.

Later, the PPP leader presented a cheque of Rs100 million on behalf of the Sindh government to the delegation of Azad Jammu and Kashmir led by Speaker AJK Assembly Ghulam Sadiq.

He also handed over 30 trucks loaded with relief goods to the delegation led by PPP Central Punjab President Mian Manzoor Watto — to be distributed among the flood victims.

In his first introductory meeting with local journalists he wore a confident look, answering the questions in a positive and convincing manner. The questions were about growing trends of extremism, ever-changing politics, the issues of minorities, cricket matches and terrorism — the PPP chief was up for all.

During the discussion Bilawal showed more concern towards the quality of education in the province and assured to bring reforms in this sector on a war footing. “We have announced education emergency in Sindh. You will see the results by 2018, when incumbent government completes its tenure,” he said.

Welcoming Punjabi Taliban decision

Bilawal, who can be termed a rigid opponent of Taliban and other such outfits, welcomed the Punjabi Talban’s decision to call off their armed struggle and said, “This is good omen, but they should prove this by releasing Ali Hyder Gilani — the son of former prime minister Yousaf Raza Gilani.”

“Only announcement is not enough and it does not mean the government will not take action against those who have killed innocent people and martyred the personnel of our army,” he asserted.

He, however, ruled out the possibility of the Sindhi Taliban who, according to intelligence agencies, were involved in dockyard incident. He nullified this notion saying “Sindh is the land of Sufis and Sindhi Taliban is just a myth.”

Dharna politics

Bilawal also lashed out at the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and Pakistan Awami Tehreek — who are currently staging a sit-in at the federal capital to overthrow the incumbent Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz government.

“Lives and properties of people are at stake in the country owing to floods, but Imran Khan and Tahirul Qadri are unwilling to give up their sit-ins.”

In reply to a question regarding why PPP has ignored the old stalwarts, Bilawal pointed towards Qaim Ali Shah referring to him as a gift from his grandfather Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. “Are you still saying that we have ignored the old guard in our party,” he questioned.

Development in Punjab

Responding to a question about weak infrastructure development in the province, he said, “There has been discrimination in our country in terms of development. The development schemes have been going on in Punjab for the last 60 years without any break, but Sindh was ignored by the federal government.”

“After the 18th amendment Sindh government has taken the initiative and people will see the difference with the passage of time,” he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 16^th, 2014.