BADIN - PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said Wednesday that Pakistan People’s Party was not answerable to PML-N Vice-President Maryam Nawaz or PML-N Quaid Nawaz Sharif and its stance will remain unchanged.
Bilawal was responding to a question from a reporter on Maryam’s recent comments that the PPP had not given reply to the show-cause notice sent to it and had shown her support to comments by Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) Secretary General Shahid Khaqan Abbasi.
Abbasi had said on Tuesday that there was no place for the PPP within the opposition alliance until it restores the trust it had betrayed. “We had asked for a response. Join together the torn pieces [of the show-cause notice], read it and give us the clarification we had sought,” Abbasi had said.
“We are not answerable to Maryam or Mian Sahab. We are answerable to the PPP and the PPP’s workers and we think the real joy will be in doing politics together with the PPP’s workers.”
Addressing a press conference held at the residence of newly-elected MPA Dada Muhammad Halepoto in village Bashir Ahmed Halepoto near Phalkara of Badin district, Bilawal said PPP had always gained fame and popularity due to sound and sustainable economic policies to benefit the masses.
Rejects deal between PTI-led govt and IMF
Bilawal said that Shehbaz Sharif was leader of the opposition in the National Assembly and the PML-N president, thus the PPP would consider his stance and statements to be official PML-N policy and conduct its politics according to that.
The PPP chairman said during by-poll for PS-70 (Badin), voters and people of the constituency showed their faith and supported PPP candidate for a big victory. Bilawal said they rejected the deal between PTI-led federal government and IMF. PPP chairman said policies of PTI-led federal government had elevated only the graph of poverty, unemployment, inflation and poor economic conditions prevailing in the country, making the people disappointed.
He said they were striving hard for betterment and development of the country and masses. Bilawal said there was a need to create a new consensus on distribution of water based on equality and justice. He said the PPP was ready to fight on the issue of injustice in water distribution on every level and also outlined measures by the Sindh Government to combat the issue such as lining of canals.
PPP chairman said the 1991 water accord was not implemented. Bilawal said member of Irsa from Sindh province was attacked when he raised his voice for the rights of Sindh and Balochistan. Taking a jibe at the PML-N, who had formed a government in the year 1991, Bilawal said the ‘selected’ government of that time had imposed an ‘illegal water accord’ on the Sindh government. “[Unlike the past] we will not tolerate anyone stealing water from Sindh,” he maintained.
He went on to say that water problems affect everyone and it is an issue that affects the future too.
He condemned attack on senior journalist Asad Ali in Islamabad by unidentified assailants and demanded inquiry into the matter. Bilawal said all relevant authorities must work together to maintain law and order in Sindh province. He said monopoly and high headedness would not be tolerated at any cost. He issued directions for approval and grant of Rs 5 million for construction of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Auditorium Hall in Badin Press Club and Rs 2 million for facilitation of Press Club and said the order should immediately be implemented and a report be submitted to him.
Earlier, Bilawal condoled with Dada Muhammad Halepoto and Shehzad Halepoto on the sad demise of former MPA Bashir Ahmed Halepoto.