Daily Times

KARACHI: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Friday criticised both Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan.

“Nawaz Sharif and Imran Kahn are two sides of the same coin. One wants to remain in power, while the other is trying to come into power,” he said, while addressing a public rally in Mehmoodabad, Karachi ahead of a by-election in the area. “Imran Khan and Nawaz Sharif are the creation of establishment. They obey its orders. Both believe in privatisation of the system and have no concern with public welfare. They have no concern for the basic needs and issues of public. Instead, they are busy in politics of blames,” he said.

“The roots of terrorism and extremism are once again reemerging in the country. However, no practical solution is being sought. The National Action Plan will not be of any use until the genuine problems and basic needs of people are fulfilled,” he said.

“Neighbouring countries including Iran, Afghanistan are boycotting Pakistan due to the government’s wrong policies. Many ministers possess more than one portfolio. However, no foreign minister has been appointed. This shows the indifference and non-serious attitude of the government,” he said.

“Khan is privatising each and every department of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Ultimately, this will create more problems for the poor people. Nawaz is a business tycoon, but not a leader. He does not believe in a welfare state, while Imran Khan’s politics are limited to twitter only,” he said.

“Those who have panicked due to the Panama inquiry must recall the time when Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Shaheed Benazir Bhutto were tortured. Zulfiqar Ali and Benazir have sacrificed their lives in order to save democracy,” he said.

The PPP leader said that his party advocated the interests of the poor people. “Karachi s called mini-Pakistan and people of different ethnicities live in this constituency. It is an area where the working class resides. They have always given sacrifices,” he said.

Bilawal said that his party had a strong bond with the people of the area as his mother Benazir Bhutto and his grandfather Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto had also visited the neighbourhood.

Published in Daily Times, July 8^th , 2017.