- Calls Balochistan ‘heart of Pakistan’ during rally in Quetta to mark party’s 56th foundation day
- Bilawal says centrifugal mindset to run the federating units as colony still persists
QUETTA: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari on Thursday asserted that ‘some forces’ hinder the progress of leaders with a vision for advancing the country and expressed confidence in the people of Pakistan, saying he does not succumb to fear in the face of such forces.
Addressing a rally in Quetta to mark the party’s 56th foundation day, he said that Balochistan was the heart of Pakistan, a term usually referred to Lahore, lamenting that Islamabad and other provinces fail to recognise it as such.
Zardari affirmed his party’s commitment to rectifying this perception while acknowledging the significance of winning hearts of the people of Balochistan to achieve this goal.
پاکستان پیپلز پارٹی کے 56 ویں یوم تاسیس کے موقع پر عوام نے اتنی بڑی تعداد میں شرکت کرکے واضح پیغام بھیج دیا ہے کہ آنے والا وقت مزدوروں، کسانوں، نوجوانوں، غریبوں اور طالب علموں کا ہے- انشاء ﷲ انتخابات میں کامیابی کے بعد یوتھ، مزدور اور کسان کارڈ لانچ کریں گے اور صوبہ بلوچستان کے… pic.twitter.com/UA3cZoxNBm
— BilawalBhuttoZardari (@BBhuttoZardari) November 30, 2023
He stated that the PPP would empower the people of Balochistan, ensuring their ownership of the province’s resources, including gas, petrol, and minerals. He underlined that the rights to these resources belong solely to the people of Balochistan, with no claim by others.
The former president highlighted the challenges faced by Balochistan and emphasised the need to address the grief prevalent in the province.
He pledged that the PPP would make Balochistan the master of its own destiny, ensuring that all resources, whether gas, petrol, or minerals, benefit the local population. Zardari promised equitable distribution of water resources across all provinces.
کوئٹہ: پاکستان پیپلزپارٹی پارلیمنٹرینز کے صدر آصف علی زرداری پی پی پی کے 56ویں یوم تاسیس کے سلسلے میں ایوب اسٹیڈیم میں ہونے والے جلسہ عام سے خطاب کررہے ہیں۔@AAliZardari
#PPPFoundationDayBalochistan pic.twitter.com/PiJRdIHyQV
— PPP (@MediaCellPPP) November 30, 2023
Turning his attention to his son Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, the veteran politician commended former foreign minister for elevating Pakistan’s dignity at a young age. He called for support for Bilawal, envisioning him as a leader of the youth, guiding the nation towards prosperity.
Zardari concluded by asserting the need to groom Bilawal as a leader for today and tomorrow, saying that he would try to transfer his ‘wisdom’ to his son.
Bilawal fires broadside at PML-N
Speaking on the occasion, Bilawal took aim at his political opponents, asserting that the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) had earned the moniker “mehangai [inflation] league”, calling the former coalition partners a showbaaz (braggers) of Pakistani politics.
Bilawal said that 70% of the country’s population comprises youth, highlighting his own youthful identity. In an apparent reference to former prime minister Imran Khan, who is considered popular among the youth, the former foreign minister said that he would represent the youth himself, not any khiladi (player).
The Pakistan Peoples Party has always been party of change. From Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto taking politics out of drawing rooms, to Shaheed Benazir Bhutto breaking barriers by fighting a brutal dictatorship and the politics of hate and division to become the first woman Prime… pic.twitter.com/LTvJOv6Ojz
— BilawalBhuttoZardari (@BBhuttoZardari) November 30, 2023
Bilawal credited his father Asif Ali Zardari for burying the politics of hatred and revenge, marking the beginning of a new era.
He said that his party would bring a new “charter of economy” if brought to power, criticising the PML-N-led government in failing to curb inflation despite holding the finance ministry.
شکریہ کوئٹہ
آج آپ نے بھرپور شرکت کرکے واضح پیغام بھیج دیا ہے کہ آنے والا وقت پاکستان پیپلز پارٹی کا ہے، انشاء ﷲ آپ کی طاقت سے عوامی راج قائم کرکے ہم یوتھ کارڈ لانچ کرکے روزگار تلاش کرنے والے نوجوانوں کو مدد فراہم کریں گے، کسان کارڈ کے ذریعے سبسڈی ملز مالکان کو دینے کے بجائے… pic.twitter.com/MogX5vFzex
— PPP (@MediaCellPPP) November 30, 2023
Urging the youth to reject divisive politics, Bilawal expressed regret that Islamabad failed to recognise the significance of Balochistan in Pakistan.
He called for a new vision and politics in Pakistan, signalling the PPP’s intention to initiate a fresh style of politics to empower the people in facing economic challenges.
‘Conspiracies being hatched against 18th Amend’
In his message on 56th founding day of the party, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Thursday said that conspiracies were being hatched against the 18th Amendment.
Bilawal Bhutto said that the centrifugal mindset to run the federating units as colony still persists, saying the PPP workers will not allow any harm to the provincial autonomy.
“The PPP is a movement not a party, founded by Shaheed Bhutto over his political wisdom and vision,” Bilawal said in his message.
“We are determined to implement the mission of Shaheed Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto,” he said. “We have to build a prosper and strong Pakistan,” Bilawal said. “The wisdom of Bhutto and Shaheed Benazir Bhutto has been our vision and guiding light,” he further said.
“Transfer of unbridled presidential powers to the parliament was the vision of Asif Zardari,” Bilawal said.
“We will never forget that the People’s Party was founded over the Kashmir question and will continue support to the people of Kashmir until their freedom from the Indian occupation,” he added.
The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) is set to commemorate its 56th foundation day with a rally in Quetta.
Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and former president Asif Ali Zardari will address rally.
The local administration has made security arrangements in and around the public meeting venue while the security has been beefed up in the provincial capital.
The PPP, founded by Zulfikar Ali Bhutto on November 30th, 1967, ruled Pakistan for five times since its foundation.
After 1965 war with India and the Tashkent declaration to end the war Gen, Ayub Khan’s Foreign Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto quit the government on June 16, 1966, as protest against the ceasefire deal.
He chose to find his own political party. The PPP was launched at its founding convention held in Lahore on November 30 – December 01, 1967. At the same meeting, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was elected as its chairman. Among the expressed goals for which the party was formed were the establishment of an “egalitarian democracy” and the “application of socialist ideas to realize economic and social justice”.
Once the most influential and popular political party of Pakistan, however, now mostly restricted to its power base of Sindh.
Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) remains a consistent electoral player since its foundation in a convention in Lahore on November 30, in 1967.
