Says the parties will have to find a political path; Warning incidents like 9 May have no place in politics
PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari addresses a large rally at Garhi Khuda Bakhsh. Photo: Express
HYDERABAD:
PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has offered the services of his father, President Asif Ali Zardari, to spearhead the process of political reconciliation in the country, tacitly extending an olive branch to Imran Khan’s beleaguered PTI.
“The political forces will have to find a political way,” Bilawal said while addressing thousands of people at his party’s public meeting held to mark the 18th birthday of his mother, former prime minister and PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto.
“The opposition parties will have to practice responsible politics and those in power will have to keep the country’s interests in mind,” he said.
Days after an opposition party alliance – TTAP – announced a shutdown and wheel stoppage strike on the second anniversary of the “heavily rigged” general election on February 8, 2024, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on December 23 that his government was ready to hold talks with the opposition.
Bilawal said he believed his father – whom he described as “the king of political reconciliation” – was the only decisive political figure capable of leading the rapprochement.
“What was Shaheed Benazir Bhutto’s last message?” he asked, before answering himself, “It was the message of reconciliation.”
He said his mother’s last book had also discussed and advocated the same political approach to end hostilities in the greater interest of the country, its people, its economy and democracy.
However, Bilawal warned that incidents like the May 9 attacks and repeated misuse of institutions have no place in politics.
He replied in the negative when asked if his workers would have reacted by attacking the Corps Commander’s house and other military installations if he or his father had been arrested.
Recalling the hanging of his grandfather, former prime minister and PPP founder Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, he said the reaction at that time remained within the ambit of politics.
He credited his mother for staying within political boundaries rather than provoking violence, even as hundreds of thousands of fervent supporters took to the streets to welcome her in Lahore in 1986.
Similarly, Bilawal praised his father, President Zardari, for raising the slogan “Pakistan Khappay” after Benazir Bhutto’s assassination on 27 December 2007, even though chants of “we don’t want Pakistan” were raised at the time.
The PPP chairman lamented that the prevailing hostile culture in politics has been detrimental to the people, the country, democracy, economy and national security.
“I believe that if we can pull Pakistan out of this political crisis, we can also lift the country out of the economic crisis and deal with national security challenges more effectively.”
Bilawal offered his party’s support to the PML-N-led federal government in tackling economic difficulties, but stressed that his proposals focused on decentralization of tax collection, electricity distribution companies and other sectors.
He argued that provincial governments could ensure better tax collection compared to the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR). “Instead of grabbing powers, the Center should assign more responsibilities to the provinces,” he said.
He suggested that utility companies like Hyderabad Electric Supply Company (HESCO) and Sukkur Electric Power Company (SEPCO) be handed over to the Sindh government, noting that subsidies to the two entities have remained a perpetual burden on federal funds.
Bilawal agreed with the PML-N government’s claim that inflation has come down from the level during former prime minister Imran Khan’s tenure.
However, he acknowledged that people’s purchasing power remains limited and that essentials such as food rations, utility bills, education and health care have become difficult to pay, describing the situation as an “affordability crisis.”
President Zardari, meanwhile, attributed the slogan Pakistan Khappay to Benazir Bhutto, saying it was coined by her soul. He said he had never asked his party’s workers to take to the streets when he was jailed. “I would have rather told them to take care of themselves and that I would confront the enemies myself.”
The President came down heavily on Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi when he reminded him of the humiliating defeat inflicted by Pakistan’s armed forces in defense of his country against Indian aggression in May this year.
He reiterated that a larger number of Indian fighter jets could have been shot down if global powers had not shown mercy to India.
Zardari praised Field Marshal General Syed Asim Munir and other chiefs of the armed forces for ensuring an impregnable defense of the country while at the same time inflicting a defeat on the Indian forces.
He asked Modi to stop referring to ‘roti’ [bread] and ‘goli’ [bullet]. Acknowledging economic and political problems in Pakistan, the president said that “one stupid person had ruined Pakistan’s economy and relations with the world”.
He said the field marshal is also playing a significant role in restoring Pakistan’s relationship with the world. “Even Donald Trump refers to him as a field marshal”.
The president described the defense as the best offense. “When they came to attack, we were already waiting for them in the sky.”
He said that India, despite its 10 times the population and a much larger economy, could not prolong the war for more than four days because the country’s civilian and military leadership lacked the courage that their Pakistani counterparts have been blessed with.
The President emphasized that Pakistan does not want war, but if aggression is imposed on the country, not only the armed forces but also the political workers of his own party will fight for the defense of the country.
