Daily Times

LAHORE: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Wednesday said his party would take to the streets from December 27.

He said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif would not accept his four-point demands regarding Panama bill, accountability of PM, removal of Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar and appointment of a foreign minister. He said that the dictatorship of ‘Takht-e-Raiwind’ will be abolished. He was addressing workers on the party’s 49th foundation day at Bilawal House. His sisters Bakhtawar and Aseefa were also present.

Bilawal reached Lahore from Dubai overnight to take part in the party’s foundation day celebrations, which started from today (Wednesday). Punjab PPP senior leaders and workers led by Qamar Zaman Kaira gave him a warm reception.

Bilawal announced that he would not give his political rivals a chance to rig next general election. He hoped that he would come to power.

He said that he had worked to introduce a progressive but practical agenda.

He said that judiciary and other institutions are silent on the biggest corruption scandal of the world, the Panama leaks, in which the Sharifs are involved.

He said on one hand the judiciary sent PPP’s premier Yousaf Raza Gilani home for not writing a letter to the Swiss government, but on the other hand it is giving immunity to Nawaz Sharif despite his involvement in Panamagate case.

He also said, “Judiciary and other power institutions are silent against rulers but all laws are being practiced on us as… justice was not being given to Asia Bibi or Mukhtaran Mai.”

He praised Lahore for giving honour to the Bhuttos in the past and now to him. He also said he loved Lahore as it has more progressive people.

He said that district-level organisation of the party was underway and every possible step would be taken to bring democratic reforms.

The PPP chairman said slain PPP chairwoman Benazir Bhutto never led a sit-in at any chowk or cursed political rivals, or attacked a national institution which is what PPP believed in.

A fresh charter and an agenda would be introduced which would be a progressive platform for the people of the country, he added.

Former prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto had founded the party in November 30, 1967.

Several rallies were conducted across the country by the party enthusiasts.

Former prime minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, Leader of the Opposition in National Assembly Khursheed Shah, Leader of the Opposition in Senate Aitzaz Ahsan, former information minister Qamar Zaman Kaira and Senator Sherry Rehman were among those prominent participants.

Earlier, several party leaders including Qamar Zaman Kaira, Nisar Khoro, Hamayun Khan, FATA PPP leader Akhundzada Chatan, Javed Mehmood and Ali Madad Jatak addressed the gathering.