Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, the leader of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), delivered a speech in the city of Rawalpindi, promising to put an end to the ‘politics of hate and division’ in the country.
He spoke about creating a ‘truth and reconciliation commission’ to achieve national unity, should his party emerge victorious in the upcoming elections.
At the same venue in Rawalpindi where the rival PML-N party had previously held their rally, Bilawal reached out to the electorate, including supporters of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party. He urged them to make a ‘wise’ decision on February 8 by voting for the ‘arrow’, the PPP’s symbol, cautioning against giving Nawaz Sharif a fourth term as Prime Minister.
Bilawal criticized the former ruling PTI for having ‘planted’ office-bearers, which resulted in the party not securing its electoral symbol. He emphasized that the majority did not want to see Nawaz Sharif in power again.
Reflecting on the city’s history, Bilawal invoked the memories of his grandfather and mother, both of whom were assassinated in Rawalpindi. He spoke about the urgent need to address not only the economic troubles but also the societal issues Pakistan is grappling with, including the resurgence of terrorism. Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari made a strong call to action against terrorism, stating that the nation must unite against all forms of terrorism and reject the notion of ‘good’ or ‘bad’ Taliban.
He also accused the PML-N of failing to respect the ‘Charter of Democracy’, a document they had formerly agreed to, and of perpetuating divisive politics.
At a separate rally in Hub, an industrial town in Balochistan, Bilawal’s father, Asif Ali Zardari, also addressed a gathering.
The former president emphasized that only democratic practices could resolve Pakistan’s challenges. He highlighted the PPP’s commitment to giving the people of Balochistan their rightful share in national resources, as evidenced by their actions during their last term in government.
Zardari stressed that democracy, despite its imperfections, is steadily becoming stronger in the country, and it is the most potent tool to solve the nation’s problems.
He reminisced about his time in office when the Aghaz-i-Haqooq-i-Balochistan Package was introduced, and how the NFC Award led to an increase in Balochistan’s budget. He put forth that the PPP always chose democratic means to fight for justice, never resorting to violence.
