Expanding horizons: PPP to set up Bilawal House in K-P, says Zardari
Co-chairman unveils plans to restart his party’s activities in the province
LAHORE:
Former president and co-chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Asif Ali Zardari announced on Saturday that he would build a ‘Bilawal House’ in Khyber-Pakhtunkhawa in an effort to restart the party’s activities in the province.
Speaking with party workers and office bearers from K-P, the former president said he would see all K-P office bearers at Bilawal House in K-P soon.
“When I see party workers sacrificing their lives, how can I hold my son back and stop him from serving people?” asked Zardari. However, he added that due to the current situation in K-P, party workers should hold meetings in their homes.
During the elections in May 2013, the PPP’s central leadership and every candidate was under threat, he said, adding that the party was not given ‘a level playing field’.
He added that the elections in Punjab were ‘easily rigged’ as a perception was created ‘that the Muslim League will win in any case’.
“What Imran Khan is doing would have been easy for the PPP to do, but we need to strengthen democracy so there is economic revival,” he added. “How can the PTI afford to spend Rs150,000 per day per bus as hundreds of buses are needed to bring its supporters to the sit-in?” he asked.
Zardari pledged to reorganise the party in K-P at a union council-level. “We will not act like illiterate or uncivilised people just to grab power,” he said. He added that the party had evolved a strategy for Swat and entered into negotiations with Mullah Fazlullah.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 12th, 2014.
Former president and co-chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Asif Ali Zardari announced on Saturday that he would build a ‘Bilawal House’ in Khyber-Pakhtunkhawa in an effort to restart the party’s activities in the province.
Speaking with party workers and office bearers from K-P, the former president said he would see all K-P office bearers at Bilawal House in K-P soon.
“When I see party workers sacrificing their lives, how can I hold my son back and stop him from serving people?” asked Zardari. However, he added that due to the current situation in K-P, party workers should hold meetings in their homes.
During the elections in May 2013, the PPP’s central leadership and every candidate was under threat, he said, adding that the party was not given ‘a level playing field’.
He added that the elections in Punjab were ‘easily rigged’ as a perception was created ‘that the Muslim League will win in any case’.
“What Imran Khan is doing would have been easy for the PPP to do, but we need to strengthen democracy so there is economic revival,” he added. “How can the PTI afford to spend Rs150,000 per day per bus as hundreds of buses are needed to bring its supporters to the sit-in?” he asked.
Zardari pledged to reorganise the party in K-P at a union council-level. “We will not act like illiterate or uncivilised people just to grab power,” he said. He added that the party had evolved a strategy for Swat and entered into negotiations with Mullah Fazlullah.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 12th, 2014.