In an apparent dig at Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Thursday urged the public to cast their votes in his favour, instead of voting for the same person who had remained the premier three times.
Speaking at PPP’s workers' convention in Abbottabad, Bilawal, who previously held the position of foreign minister during the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) government, assured the participants that he would not disappoint the nation if elected as the country's premier.
Bilawal asserted the PPP's commitment to represent the marginalised sections of society, citing the party's enduring influence over three generations.
لائیو: پاکستان پیپلز پارٹی کا ایبٹ آباد میں کنونشن https://t.co/vkSDesvKpF
— Pakistan Peoples Party – PPP (@PPP_Org) November 16, 2023
He lauded his father's contributions to Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, claiming that during his presidency, Asif Ali Zardari had bestowed a long-awaited identity upon the province by changing its name from NWFP to Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.
Taking credit for the initiation of the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), Bilawal highlighted its role in alleviating the hardships faced by the impoverished population. However, amidst his accolades for the party's achievements, he lamented the prevailing historic levels of inflation and poverty in Pakistan.
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Expressing concern over what he perceived as a lack of awareness among politicians, bureaucracy, and the government regarding ground realities, Bilawal criticised the traditional politics of older parties.
He urged the public to consider the PPP's manifesto as a solution to the country's challenges, emphasising the need for a change in leadership.
Bilawal said that he did not treat PML-N and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) as his adversaries but rather exorbitant inflation and poverty.
He underscored the importance of choosing leaders based on intention and a unified ideology rather than the number of times someone has held the position of prime minister. Bilawal asserted that solving the country's problems and serving the people is not difficult if approached with the right intention and a cohesive manifesto.
Read More: Gen Bajwa wanted us to withdraw no-trust vote against Imran: Bilawal
Emphasising a commitment to people-centric governance, the PPP chairman asserted that his political strength would solely be derived from the people, echoing the PPP's belief that the public is the ultimate source of power. He said that one should be a "ladla" (darling) of the people instead of the establishment's.
While expressing readiness to serve if given the opportunity, Bilawal emphasised that the decision ultimately lies in the hands of the people.
Read the full story at the express tribune website.
