PPP has struggled against injustice and dictatorship: Bilawal

HYDERABAD: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Wednesday lashed at his main political opponents, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf  and Pakistan Muslim League (PM-N) saying that both parties have no concern for the welfare of the people.

Addressing a political gathering in Hyderabad to honour the victims of the Karsaz attack, the PPP chairman said that incident was major turning point in their struggle against dictatorship and injustice.

“PPP has gone through a lot of testing periods, but has always stood up against injustice of dictatorship,” he said. “The jiyalas of PPP remained steadfast against the bloody dictatorship of Zia-ul-Haq.”

He said the Zulfikar Ali Bhutto struggled and sacrificed himseld in the fight against injustice, which was carried forward by Benazir Bhutto. “The conspiracies against democracy did not end. On one side was PPP and another side was parties who were nurtured in the laps of dictators.”

However, he said that Benazir remained steadfast and determined despite the horrific attack on October 18, 2007 in Karachi until she was martyred a few months later in Rawalpindi.

“Terrorists and dictators like Musharraf could not suppress Benazir,” he said paying goring tributes to the victims of the Karsaz attacks. “A brutal attack took place a peaceful caravan and over 200 lives were sacrificed.”

Speaking about the upcoming golden jubilee anniversary of the PPP, Bilawal said that today is not the era of General Zia-ul-Haq or General Ayub, but Benazir is still alive among us and the mantle of leadership is carried by Asif Ali Zardari.

He said PPP wants to set up a democratic society, but PML-N and PTI are concerned about the personal vested interests rather than the welfare of the people. “PML-N, PTI have nothing for the people, both are sacrificing the nation for themselves.”

Bilawal lashed at the leadership of both political opponents calling PTI chairman Imran Khan an ‘inept player’ who has not come out of the cricket grounds. “Politics is not cricket or abuse. I believe in politics of principles.”

He also decried the development by the PML-N saying that Karachi-Hyderabad motorway was incomplete resulting in frequent accidents, while a two billion rupees package announced for the city was not even provided.

“The development in Sindh also only took place during era of PPP,” he said adding that Nawaz Sharif complained of Sindh being in ruins. “It’s not the land of Sindh but the politics of Nawaz which is in ruins,” he said.

He said the reality was that development projects were ongoing in Sindh, to improve road networks with special focus on health and education. “The truth is that Sindh is not provided the share of water which is allocated for it,” he said adding a shortage is created due to the discriminate distribution of water resources.

“The people have understood the lies and propaganda of our opponents,” he said adding that will not succeed to sway the people. He said the PPP will form an egalitarian and democratic society, and vowed to make Pakistan an independent and strong state.

Several prominent leaders including Leader of Opposition in National Assembly Khursheed Shah, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, Nisar Khuro, Maulabux Chandio, Nadeem Afzal Chan, and former chief minister Qaim Ali Shah also addressed the congregation.