We kept on telling Khan Sahib to do politics; abusing rivals & putting them & their sisters in jail is not politics: Bilawal
LAHORE, Jan 21 (SABAH): Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Sunday called on the supporters of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to vote for his party as the February 8 elections would see a battle between two parties — “the lion and the arrow”.
“I am speaking to the PTI supporters: We kept on telling Khan Sahib to do politics; abusing rivals and putting them and their sisters in jail is not politics,” Bilawal said while addressing a party power show in Lahore.
Bilawal Bhutto said he understands the pain that PTI workers are going through and blamed Nawaz Sharif’s PML-N for the former ruling party’s setbacks. “I respect political workers […] I’ve been through this and I do not want anyone to go through such testing times.”
“I appeal to you [PTI supporters], in the battle between ‘lion and arrow’, support me. I will bury revenge politics,” Bilawal vowed, reminding people that when his party’s prime ministers took office, they released “political prisoners”.
Bilawal stressed the need to end the old ways of politics and bring all forces together, which would in return help to steer the country out of politics.
He promised to outperform “Showbaz” and “Wasim Akram plus” — the terms used by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan to mock Shehbaz Sharif and to praise for Punjab chief minister Usman Buzdar — after being elected in the February 8 general elections.
“Is it Lahore’s fate to elect the same faces again and again? I am here to win your hearts, fight for you and struggle for you. We cannot hand over Pakistan to these old politicians,” Bilawal said.
The former foreign minister said that Lahore had elected the late Benazir Bhutto as prime minister. “Punjab has also suffered the consequences of removing the People’s Party through a conspiracy. I will continue my struggle until getting victorious,” he added.
The politico said that PPP has come up with a concrete 10-point economic plan to provide relief to the masses. He reiterated to abolish 17 ministries to cut Rs300 billion expenditures which would be spent on the nationals besides ending Rs1,500 annual subsidies to the elites if PPP voted to power.
He urged PPP workers to continue to sway voters with the party’s manifesto two weeks ahead of the nationwide polls.
Bilawal underscored the necessity of departing from outdated political practices and advocated for unity among all forces to guide the country away from political turmoil.
Meanwhile Bilawal Bhutto in a statement issued on twitter said “Thank you Lahore! It is time to put an end to the politics of revenge, division, and hate. It is time to choose a new way of politics. Choose ending wasteful government spending on defunct ministeries. Choose to redirect untargeted subsidies for the elite to targeted interventions for the poor, the marginalised, the dispossessed. Choose 30 lakh new homes with ownership given to women heads of households. Choose regularising Katchi Abadis. Choose 300 units of free electricity. Choose free healthcare and schooling. Choose prosperity for farmers, laborers, women, and the youth. On 8th February vote for the ‘teer’ and choose a better tomorrow”.