LARKANA: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto ended his election campaign on Monday night by offering fateha (prayers) at the Bhutto Mausoleum in Garhi Khuda Bakhsh. On Monday, PPP chief visited Shahdadkot, Garhi Khairi, Jacobabad, Shikarpur and Garhi Yasin. During his visit to these areas, Bilawal reiterated his party’s commitment to the democracy. “During my entire campaign, I have taken PPP’s manifesto everywhere with me. The reason is simple: I want to let the people of Pakistan know what the PPP stands for. We believe in freedoms, democratic principles and we want the best for our nation,” he said. Bilawal remarked how other parties only indulged in point-scoring and calling each other’s names while the PPP leadership actually raised issues related to the wellbeing of the people of Pakistan. “We have never resorted to name-calling. Such tactics are only used by those who don’t have anything substantial to say. I am here to serve my nation, nothing else matters. Fulfilling Benazir Bhutto’s mission is my ultimate goal,” he stressed. Bilawal said he believes in a progressive Pakistan. “We will defeat extremism and terrorism. We will make Pakistan a tolerant country. While some leaders have only perpetuated a culture of intolerance in our society, the PPP leadership has set an example of civilised discourse. We cannot allow our society to be exploited by the forces of extremism. This is a very dangerous route and we must not go down this road, ever!” he said. Earlier, addressing a corner meeting in Qambar district on the last day of his election campaign, Bilawal said he is not afraid of any undemocratic tactics. “I am out on streets to save Pakistan,” said the PPP scion, urging voters to support him the same way they supported his grandfather and deceased PPP leader Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. While speaking in Ratodero, Bilawal remarked, “The general election will play an integral role in the strengthening of country’s democracy. I will complete the mission of Benazir Bhutto.” Fake politicians formed an alliance to create hurdles in the way of the PPP, he said, adding that the forces working against the nation will be defeated in tomorrow’s general elections. Bilawal said everyone knows what Imran Khan and Maulana Fazlur Rahman have been saying against each other but they have joined hands now against the PPP. “Even bat is now running on diesel,” he quipped. “People have faced dictatorship of Zia ul Haq and Pervez Musharraf … these puppet alliances are nothing before the power of the people … we have been defeating such puppet alliances in the past and will defeat them in future as well,” he added. “We believe in ideological and principled politics and will continue to resolve issues faced by the masses. Our struggle is not against any political party or any politician but our fight is against poverty, unemployment, hate, backwardness, extremism and highhandedness,” he said. Published in Daily Times, July 24th 2018.