Those who claimed to be representing ‘sanctity of vote’ have shown their true colours & have become Pak’s ‘mehengai league’ instead: Bilawal

PESHAWAR, Nov 18 (SABAH): As electioneering picks up in the country, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has said that those who claimed to be representatives of the sanctity of vote have instead become the country’s “mehengai [inflation] league”.

“Those who claimed to be representing the ‘sanctity of vote’ have shown their true colours and have become Pakistan’s ‘mehengai [inflation] league’ instead,” Bilawal Bhutto said while taking a veiled jibe at Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif during his address at a workers’ convention in Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Saturday.

“They have no respect for the [public’s] ‘vote’ […] neither do they know about serving the people nor how to govern [the country],” he added.

Bilawal Bhutto, without taking any names, also took a jibe at the Imran Khan-led Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), saying: “Those who claimed to be representative of change instead turned out to be representative of disaster.”

“Taking ‘U-turns’ is a sign of a coward, not a leader,” he said while referring to Imran Khan’s infamous justification for changing political stances.

Responding to the criticism of the PPP’s performance as part of the PML-N-led Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) government, the PPP chief said that he is proud of his 16-month performance and is willing to contest the polls on his performance as the foreign minister.

“The PPP has a better chance today [in February 8, 2024 polls] which it didn’t have back in 2013 and 2018 elections,” he said.

Highlighting that the PPP never had a level playing field in the general elections, Bilawal Bhutto said his party had now become accustomed to contesting the polls despite the odds being turned against them.

“For PPP, there was never a level playing field. We are used to (contesting) without even having a level playing field,” he said.

Giving a recap of the past, the former foreign minister told the workers that PPP won the 1988 elections despite the formation of a united political alliance known as Islami Jamhoori Ittehad (IJI) with the backing of the then establishment.

“You all tell me that in 1988 what kind of a level playing field was given? Do you remember or not? In 1988 they made a united alliance by the name of IJI,” he said. “But still Benazir Bhutto won the election and became the first female prime minister of the country.”

He then highlighted how the 2002 election under the late military ruler General Pervez Musharraf was “snatched away” from the PPP.

“I want to make you remember the 2002 election. Even then PPP performed well. But some people turned out to be sell outs. Benazir termed them ‘Pakistan People’s Parasites’,” Bilawal added.

Questioning the alleged impartiality of the 2008 elections which the PPP won, he said 200 workers were killed in the first pre-election rally held on October 18, 2007, adding that the party’s leadership (Benazir) was also assassinated later that year on December 27.

“But still the election was postponed. It had to take place within a week but they took 40 days. Despite all that, the PPP won the election and formed a government.”

Bilawal made it clear that if someone thinks that they can forcibly make someone the prime minister, they are wrong. He said PPP activists were present in the field as he vowed to not become part of any future IJI and contest on his party’s symbol, the arrow.

The PPP chairman reiterated that the people were fed up with “old politicians” leading the country, asking why make someone the prime minister for the fourth time when one can be picked from the youth.

Bilawal shed some light on his accomplishments as the foreign minister, saying that he needed to be elected as the prime minister if he wanted to do more for the country.

Vowing to bury the “old politics” practised in the country, Bilawal said he would work for the betterment of the people and Pakistan’s modernisation to transform it into a powerful country if he comes to power.

He also requested the people in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to not fight among themselves. “If you forget these differences, no one can defeat you,” the PPP chief said. “I promise you that if you support me, we won’t need anyone else.”

He highlighted the party’s public contact campaign and announced upcoming conventions in Dir, Chitral and Nowshera. Bilawal Bhutto emphasised the strength of PPP workers in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, stating that they adhere to principles despite challenges.

Bilawal Bhutto called for a united front, urging support for the young generation in politics. He rejected old politicians, saying they should pray for the country in mosques. He also nullified those who wanted to become premier for the third or fourth time.

He proposed expanding the Benazir Income Support Programme, introducing a ‘Kisan Card’ for small farmers, and enhancing benefits under the Benazir Mazdoor Card. Bilawal also emphasised the need for a level playing field in elections and rejected the idea of forcibly appointing a prime minister.

In a plea for unity until February, Bilawal envisioned a government formed by the arrow symbol. He encouraged hard work and expressed determination to fulfill the mission of Bhutto and Benazir. Bilawal concluded by asserting his fearlessness in the face of challenges.