He says that the parties will have to find a political path; He warns that incidents like the one on May 9 have no place in politics
PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari addresses a large rally at Garhi Khuda Bakhsh. Photo: Express
HYDERABAD:
PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has offered the services of his father President Asif Ali Zardari to spearhead the political reconciliation process in the country, tacitly extending an olive branch to Imran Khan’s beleaguered PTI.
“Political forces will have to find a political path,” Bilawal said while addressing thousands of people at his party’s public meeting held to mark the 18th death anniversary of his mother, former prime minister and PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto.
“Opposition parties will have to practice responsible politics and those in power will have to take into account the interests of the country,” he said.
Days after an alliance of opposition parties, the TTAP, announced a shutdown and strike to lock the wheels on the second anniversary of the “highly rigged” general election on February 8, 2024, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on December 23 that his government was ready to hold talks with the opposition.
Bilawal said he believed his father, whom he described as the “king of political reconciliation”, was the only key political figure capable of leading the rapprochement.
“What was Shaheed Benazir Bhutto’s last message?” he asked, before answering: “It was the message of reconciliation.”
He said his mother’s last book had also discussed and defended the same political approach of ending hostilities for the benefit of the country, its people, its economy and its democracy.
Bilawal, however, warned that incidents such as the May 9 attacks and repeated abuses of institutions have no place in politics.
He responded negatively when asked whether his workers would have reacted by attacking the corps commander’s house and other military installations if he or his father had been arrested.
Recalling the hanging of his grandfather, former Prime Minister and PPP founder Zulfikar Ali Bhutto said the reaction at that time remained within the realm of politics.
He credited his mother for restraining himself within political boundaries rather than provoking violence, even as hundreds of thousands of fervent supporters took to the streets to welcome him in Lahore in 1986.
Similarly, Bilawal praised his father, President Zardari, for raising the slogan of “Pakistan Khappay” after the assassination of Benazir Bhutto on December 27, 2007, even as chants of “we don’t want Pakistan” were raised at the time.
The PPP president regretted that the culture of hostility prevailing in politics has been detrimental to the people, the country, democracy, the economy and national security.
“I believe that if we can get Pakistan out of this political crisis, we can also get the country out of the economic crisis and address national security challenges more effectively.”
Bilawal offered his party’s support to the PML-N-led federal government to address financial difficulties but stressed that his proposal focused on decentralization of tax collection, power distribution companies and other sectors.
He stated that provincial governments could ensure better tax collection compared to the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR). “Instead of snatching powers, the center should assign more responsibilities to the provinces,” he said.
He suggested that utilities like Hyderabad Electric Supply Company (HESCO) and Sukkur Electric Power Company (SEPCO) be handed over to the Sindh government, pointing out that subsidies for the two entities have remained a perpetual drain on federal funds.
Bilawal agreed with the PML-N government’s claim that inflation has declined compared to levels during former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s tenure.
However, he acknowledged that people’s purchasing power remains limited and that essential goods such as food rations, utility bills, education and healthcare have become difficult to afford, describing the situation as an “affordability crisis”.
Meanwhile, President Zardari attributed the Pakistan Khappay slogan to Benazir Bhutto, saying it was coined by her soul. He said he had never asked his party workers to take to the streets when he was imprisoned. “I would rather tell them to take care of themselves and that I would face the enemies myself.”
The president sharply criticized Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, reminding him of the humiliating defeat Pakistan’s armed forces inflicted on his country in defense against Indian aggression in May this year.
He reiterated that a larger number of Indian fighter jets could have been shot down if world powers had not shown mercy to India.
Zardari praised Field Marshal General Syed Asim Munir and other armed forces commanders for ensuring impregnable defense of the country and at the same time defeating the Indian forces.
He asked Modi to stop making references to ‘roti’ [bread] and ‘goli’ [bullet]. Acknowledging the economic and political problems in Pakistan, the president said that “one stupid person had destroyed Pakistan’s economy and its relations with the world.”
He said the field marshal is also playing an important role in restoring Pakistan’s relations with the world. “Even Donald Trump refers to him as a quarterback.”
The president described defense as the best attack. “When they came to attack, we were already waiting for them in heaven.”
He said India, despite its 10 times larger population and much larger economy, could not prolong the war for more than four days because the country’s civil and military leaders lacked the courage with which their Pakistani counterparts have been blessed.
The president stressed that Pakistan does not want war, but if aggression is imposed on the country, not only the armed forces but also political workers, including those from his own party, will fight for the defense of the country.
