Addressing a rally in PML-N stronghold Lahore, PPP chief also invites PTI voters to support his party; vows to end politics of oppression n Says we cannot hand over Pakistan to old politicians.
LAHORE - Chairman Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has urged the supporters of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to vote for his party as the elections would see a battle only between two parties ‘the lion’ and ‘the arrow’. It is to be noted here that the PTI of former prime minister Imran Khan has lost its electoral symbol ‘bat’ after the court upheld the Election Commission of Pakistan’s decision of nullifying the controversial intra-party elections.
The PPP has retained its election symbol ‘arrow’, and the PML-N has also secured its decades-old ‘lion’ as electoral sign.
“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, the stronghold of Nawaz League.
Bilawal also extended an invitation to PML-N workers, saying, “Come to me, and I will respect your vote and take care of you.”
Bilawal 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 phase and I do not want anyone to go through such testing times,” the PPP chairman said while referring the hard times he and his family suffered during the PML-N governments in the past.
“I do not believe in politics of oppression,” he added.
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.
“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.
On the occasion, Bilawal targeted the former coalition partner (PML-N) with strong criticism, questioning how long the people of Punjab would endure the alternating rule of PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif and Wasim Akram plus (PTI’s Usman Buzdar) in Lahore.
He 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.
Bilawal reminded that those who now mock the PPP’s limited presence in Lahore have forgotten that the city warmly welcomed Benazir Bhutto, and in turn, she was elected as the prime minister of the country.
The PPP chairman highlighted his 10-point welfare agenda, emphasising that upon assuming power, 17 federal ministries would be abolished and the elites would no longer receive subsidies. Instead, he added, the funds saved from these decisions would be spent on the welfare of the people.
“If you make me the prime minister, your salaries will be doubled in five years. We will provide free electricity for up to 300 units through solar panels. Cards will be provided to women and farmers,” Bilawal promised.
Calling on the youth to not squander the “power of the vote,” he highlighted the challenges faced by many young and qualified individuals in securing employment.
“Give me one chance, and I will provide you with a youth card, ensuring that you will not face difficulties in obtaining both jobs and training in modern technology,” he said.
He insisted that under the PPP, the income of the common man would be doubled, and with the party in power, its goal of constructing three million houses could also be achieved.
“I am aware of the difficulties faced by families due to politics of division and hatred, which have been detrimental to the country,” he said. “I am committed to steering the country in a new direction,” he said.