Pakistan People’s Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari addresses a press conference in Karachi on November 7, 2025. SCREENGRAB
LAHORE:
As the PPP chairman concluded his four-day stay in the provincial capital where he felicitated the Punjab Chief Minister, Maryam Nawaz signed off by extending a warm welcome to Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and conveying her heartfelt good wishes and prayers.
Taking to the microblogging site, Maryam Bilawal welcomed his visit and told him that Punjab is his home and he will always find a place of respect there. She also thanked him for his gracious remarks.
During his visit, Bilawal praised Maryam for her leadership and governance and even invited her to contest elections from Sindh. But praise for the Punjab government appeared to be a mere garnish on a main course of veiled criticism. Despite staying four days in Punjab, neither side reached out to the other for a formal meeting, as is otherwise the custom between natural allies.
The PPP chairman visited Chiniot on Thursday to condole with General Secretary PPP Central Punjab Hassan Murtaza on the demise of his father.
In response to media queries, Bilawal again hinted at the possibility of governor’s rule in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa while denying any formal discussion with the PML-N on the issue. However, he warned that the prevailing situation could force the government to act.
Bilawal said that people are facing financial difficulties. While acknowledging that the government’s claims of improving the economy are true to some extent, he noted that much more needs to be done. Stressing the need to focus on exports, he said the PPP believes that the federal and provincial governments are not supporting the agricultural sector sufficiently.
Regarding the conviction of Lt (retd) Faiz Hameed, he described it as a historic verdict, stating that the former general had been sentenced to 14 years in prison. “I think more trials will also be conducted regarding various crimes committed by him,” he said.
Bilawal recalled that he witnessed two “Pharaohs” in his political life: Imran Khan, who as prime minister threatened people with jail, even targeting women from the families of political opponents such as Faryal Talpur and Maryam Nawaz, and Gen Faiz, who he said was drunk on power and, in violation of his oath, targeted politicians and others. “Now they are being held accountable for their actions,” he added.
On the 27th Amendment, Bilawal said that the PPP considers it as fulfillment of one of the key points of the Charter of Democracy (CoD). “This was promised in the CoD and the PPP had long demanded the creation of a constitutional court with equal representation from all federating units,” he said, noting that the chief justice of the constitutional court is from southern Punjab, calling it “a triumph for our ideology”.
He added that the PPP prevented any change to the NFC Award, describing it as another big victory. The NFC award, protected under the 18th Amendment, ensures financial security for the provinces. “If changes had been made, Punjab would have suffered the most,” he said. The PPP chairman acknowledged the financial difficulties of the federal government but noted that the government has not approached the PPP regarding the 28th amendment or the creation of new provinces.
Bilawal stressed that the residents of any province or city are not responsible for these economic challenges. “The responsibility lies with bureaucrats in Islamabad,” he said, pointing out that the FBR consistently misses its revenue targets. “Why should the people bear the burden of FBR’s weaknesses and failures?”
The President arrives in Lahore
President Asif Zardari arrived in Lahore where he is expected to stay for a few days. During his visit, there have been rumors of a potential meeting between the PPP and PML-N leadership; however, no official or unofficial confirmation has come from either side.
