LAHORE - PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari is all set to celebrate Diwali on Thursday (tomorrow) with the Hindu community in Tharparkar district of Sindh.
Last year, he participated in the Diwali festivities at Larkana, but this time around, he has chosen Mithi, the district headquarters of Tharparkar to celebrate the event. Analysts believe the move aims at attracting Hindu voters ahead of Local Government elections.
It may be noted that over 50 per cent population in Tharparkar comprises Hindu community. Traditionally, this community has been supporting the PPP candidates in elections, but Arbabs of Mithi also enjoy significant influence in the area.
Two National Assembly seats and four Provincial Assembly seats fall in Tharparkar district. In 2013 elections, the PPP captured two National Assembly and three Provincial Assembly seats from this water-starved district while one Provincial Assembly seat went to the PML-N.
Also, Co-Chairman PPP Asif Ali Zardari has greeted the Hindus of Pakistan on the occasion of Diwali and called for strengthening interfaith harmony and protecting minorities rights.
“I wish to extend on my behalf and on behalf of the PPP heartiest greetings to the Hindus on the occasion of Diwali”, he said in his message, adding, that Diwali celebration was also an occasion to reiterate commitment to promoting interfaith harmony as a means to fight religious apartheid.
Zardari asserted that all minorities including Hindus of Pakistan are equal citizens of the State and entitled to equal rights.
“I also wish to reiterate our commitment to respect and uphold the UN Resolution calling for interfaith harmony and the pledges contained in the manifesto of the party to safeguard the rights of all minorities in accordance with the teachings of the Founder of the Nation Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and the Founder of the Party Quaid-e-Awam Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto”.