KARACHI: Chairman Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Sunday said if the government did not accept their demands, he would announce a long march on December 27, ARY News reported.
“The government should accept our four demands for the sake of integrity of national unity. Assign a foreign minister on immediate basis, Panama Bill presented by PPP should be approved, the suggestions of former president Asif Ali Zardari on China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) presented in All Parties Conference be accepted and the national security committee of parliamentarians should be reconstituted,” he said while addressing the mammoth Salam-e-Shuhada Rally at Karsaz.
The rally was held to pay homage to the victims of a 2007 terrorist attack. Over 125 people were killed in the twin blasts on October 18, 2007.
Bilawal said if the demands were not met, he would announce long march against the government on December 27 in Garkhi Khuda Bakhsh.
He said wherever would be war of injustice, Karbala will be established there.
“The war of truth (haq) and falsehood (batil) has not yet ended and we are with all the oppressed people. I am heir of all those who died in Karsaz incident of Oct 18, who died in the fight against terrorism and who died fighting enemies on the border,” he said.
He said terrorists had staged Karbala in every corner of Pakistan.
While highlighting atrocities being carried out in Kashmir, he questioned that who was Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to lecture us on terrorism. He was the man who was Chief Minister of Gujarat during massacre of Muslims and he was not given US visa, now he had become self-claimed Gujjar of Kashmir.
“Pitifully, Modi is using pellet guns, which is used on animals, on our Kashmiri brothers and sisters. Whole the world has accepted Kashmir movement as indigenous. While, the Indian government is calling all the citizens terrorists to hide their atrocities,” he said adding that we wanted freedom of Kashmir, that’s all.
He said PPP had severe differences with Nawaz over foreign policy. He also questioned why was National Action Plan not being implemented in every nook and corner of the country.
“Insha Allah! We will celebrate the biggest Diwali of Pakistani history on October 30 to demonstrate the world and India that we are a peaceful nation and we want freedom of Kashmir,” he said.
Will announce long march on Dec 27, if demands not accepted: Bilawal Bhutto https://t.co/YuUAxXeJLo
— ARY News (@ARYNEWSOFFICIAL) October 16, 2016
Thank you #Karachi. No other political party has the capacity to pull off such a show. #SalamShuhdaRally pic.twitter.com/ERrZx3jNp2
— BilawalBhuttoZardari (@BBhuttoZardari) October 16, 2016
Will announce long march against govt, if… by arynews
Before Bilawal’s speech at Karsaz, Chief Minister Sindh Murad Ali Shah chanted ‘Go Nawaz Go’ slogan and said Bilawal Bhutto Zardari will be made sit on the seat of prime minister in 2018.
He said it was not culmination of the rally, but inauguration. The rally will culminate in 2018 when Bilawal will hold the premier’s seat.
Those demanding partition of Sindh are themselves separated: Bilawal
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, while addressing a rally in Lyari, said that those who were speaking about the partition of Sindh are now separated themselves.
He strongly criticised his political opponents including the Mutahida Quami Movement (MQM) and said that a befitting response will be given to them in the upcoming by-elections. “The arrow is out of the bow and the string of the kite has been struck,” he said.
Bilawal said that Lyari is the stronghold of brave people who have risen against all forms of dictatorship. “Lyari was the second home of my mother and grandfather,” he said. He recalled that his parents wedding was held in Lyari and that he was also born there.
“I am the son of Lyari,” Bilawal told cheering crowds and said that despite all attempts Lyari remains the stronghold of the PPP. He decried that the peace of Lyari is spoiled under a conspiracy which they will restore them.
He paid tributes to the martyrs of Lyari who lost their lives for the sake of the party, and to the hardworking people of the impoverished area.
Large number of party workers and supporters were gathered in different areas to welcome the rally on its route. The rally passed through several areas including Bilawal Chowrangi, Mai Kolachi, Native Jetty, I.C.I Bridge, Lea Market, Lyari, M.A. Jinnah Road, Kharadar, Mazar-e-Quaid and Karsaz.
Murad Ali Shah has termed the rally as the start of the preparations for the 2018 election. He said the party workers have the same determination and enthusiasm as in 2007 when they gathered to welcome Benazir Bhutto when the attack took place.
PPP leader Qamar-uz-Zaman Kaira, while speaking to ARY News said that the rally was a befitting response to their opponents, and is testament that the party is still present in the hearts of its members.
Nawaz Sharif is incompetent PM, says Bilawal
While addressing the rally before Quaid’s Mausoleum, he said he wished to talk to the great leader and tell him that your country was colored with blood, people were suffering from lack of basic necessities.
Bilawal said first prime minister of Pakistan Liaquat Ali Khan was shot dead and the first elected prime minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto was hanged till death.
“Our thrice elected Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is incompetent. Politicians are fighting with each other and our enemy Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is smiling on us,” he said.
The PPP chairman said: “I pledge to you (Quaid-e-Azam Muhammed Ali Jinnah) that if people support me I will freed them from terrorism and poverty. I pledge I will fight for Pakistan, Islam, women, poor and minorities.”
He said conspiracy was being hatched to make institutes handicapped.
Karsaz blast was the biggest terrorism against any party, says Bilawal
Bilawal Bhutto, while addressing the rally at Bilawal Chowrangi, said that Karsaz attack on 18th October 2007 was the biggest terrorist attack against any political party of the world.
He said that former prime minister Benazir Bhutto chose Karachi as the city of her return to Pakistan and did not back down from the threats she received and kept challenging the evil-doers of the society.
He added that Karachi is the heartbeat of Pakistan and they will liberate it from ‘Takht-e-Raiwind’, in an indirect jibe at the governance of Nawaz Sharif.
He added PPP had restored democracy, hoisted the national flag in Swat and tackled poverty through Benazir Income Support Program (BISP) and even initiated the China Pakistan Economic Corridor.
He emotionally recalled his mother and said that the supporters and lovers of Benazir Bhutto are alive. “Benazir had come to Pakistan for ending dictatorship, terrorism, unemployment and sectarianism from the country.”
He lashed out at Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan and said that the responsibility of dealing with a “lion” has been given to a “sportsman.
Bilawal said, “We brought a change in Sindh and bringing a change within the party. With your support, we can bring a change in the country.”
He added that the Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) federal government will continue to get stronger if opposition parties behave in a childish manner.
Preparations and Support
A welcome camp was set up near the Bilawal House playing party tunes, while flags and banners have been placed in various parts of the city. A large number of party loyalists have already gathered at the camp.
Chief Minister of Sindh Murad Ali Shah, former Prime Ministers Syed Yousuf Raza Gillani and Raja Pervez Ashraf, Khursheed Shah, Sherry Rehman, Nafisa Shah, Latif Khosa, Qaim Ali Shah, Shehla Raza and Moula Bux Chandio are accompanying the PPP chairman who was perched on the top of a bus.
Aseefa Bhutto Zardari, said on Twitter that the day shows the true love for Bilawal Bhutto and that those who sacrificed their lives will not be forgotten. She said that the day was supposed to be celebration but turned into a tragedy.
“Benazir Bhutto had the courage to stand up against the dictator no matter his rank. Nawaz is worried about the shadow uniform on Musharraf,” she tweeted.
Strict security arrangements have been adopted for the public meeting including 25 Superintendent Police, 60 Deputy Superintendent Police and around eight thousand policeman. Additional Inspector General Mushtaq Mahar said that they have not ruled any type of impending threat.
It should be noted that a welcome parade on the return of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto to Pakistan was attacked by terrorists with twin bombing near Karsaz in Karachi on 18th October 2007, killing 180 people and injuring more than five hundred.
Bhutto survived the terrorist attack but assassinated in gun and bombing attack in Rawalpindi on December 27 same year after addressing an election rally of the party.
Mashallah ❤️ #SalamShuhdaRally #JeayBhutto pic.twitter.com/WeDPc1c2PB
— Aseefa B Zardari (@AseefaBZ) October 16, 2016
#SalamShuhdaRally pic.twitter.com/DSI0C9JqGU
— BilawalBhuttoZardari (@BBhuttoZardari) October 16, 2016
Chairman #PPP @BBhuttoZardari leading #PPP rally from Bilawal House to #Karsaz. #SalamShuhdaRally @BENAZIRMBBS @BENAZIR_NEWS @fkkundi pic.twitter.com/QV3GhAdJm9
— NEWS PPP KARACHI (@NewsPPPKarachi) October 16, 2016