Daily Times

RAWALPINDI: Bilawal Bhutto is all set to reignite the Bhutto legacy and he will resume it from where it was left by Benazir Bhutto. On December 27, 2007, the former prime minister of Pakistan Benazir Bhutto was assassinated in Liaquat Bagh, Rawalpindi. Today her son and the chairman of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) will start his massive rally from the twin cities.

Bilawal will lead the rally all the way from Islamabad to Mirpur in Azad Kashmir. Accompanied by the party activists and senior leaders of PPP, the third generation of Bhutto family is all set to make his mark on the political canvas of the country.

The rally will begin from Bilawal House Islamabad and pass through Rawat, Mandara, Gujjar Khan, Sohawa, Dina, Mangla Cantt, Mangla Dam and will eventually culminate at Quaid-e-Azam Stadium in Mirpur, Azad Kashmir. Bilawal will also deliver his address today at 5 pm. PPP leader and former prime minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf will join the rally from Gujjar Khan.

Bilawal is often compared to his mother and grandfather who both were exemplary leaders of the country. He claims to represent the passions and vigour of the young and educated lot of the country who understand the core problems of the country and are determined to do something about them. Today will be the day when Bilawal leads the rally and unites his supporters under his banner to start his journey towards betterment of Pakistan.

Live updates

5:10 pm

Former prime minister Yousaf Raza Gilani and former Azad Jammu and Kashmir prime minister Chaudhry Abdul Majeed are on the stage.

4.25 pm

Bilawal’s massive rally had started reaching Mirpur in Azad Kashmir. However, the sources have told Daily Times that there are so many people in the rally and there are uncountable cars which had made the rally extend all the way to the outskirts of Dina. With Bilawal’s car reaching Mirpur, the final cars of the rally are just leaving Dina.

4.00 pm

Bilawal’s caravan is about to reach Dina and according to resources the former prime minister Raja Parvaiz Ashraf is on the driving seat of Bilawal’s car. Senior PPP leader Nadeem Afzal Chan had also joined the rally along with thousands of ‘Jiyalas’ that came with him all the way from Mandi Bahauddin.

Chan told Daily Times that the fervor is apparent among the supporters and the enthusiasm seen today mirrors that of the time when Benazir Bhutto returned to Pakistan in 1986. He also said, “When Bilawal makes a speech, I can clearly see the reflection of his grandfather Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto. His gestures and words remind me of the same zeal for the common people as his grandfather’s”.  He added that the response that today’s rally had received is a clear indication that PPP is reviving in Punjab.

3.30 pm

Meanwhile the stage has been set at Mirpur where Bilawal Bhutto is scheduled to address a massive rally. Sources said that six chairs have been placed in addition to Bilawal Bhutto’s chair for six senior leaders. The venue of the rally’s arrival had been secured with a large number of security personnel and all arrangements have been completed for the arrival of Bilawal’s carvan.

3.00 pm

The next stop on the way for Bilalwal Bhutto’s caravan is Dina. Senior leader of PPP Qamar Zaman Kaira will welcome the convoy there along with thousands of supporters. The rally has grown many folds since its departure from Islamabad and is expected to continue to swell further as ‘jiyalas’ are joining the envoy from every city and district that is on the way of the rally.

2.00 pm

At Gujjar Khan, Bilawal addressed to the PPP supporters. He said, “Takht-e-Raiwind has more budget allocation than Potohar region”. He added that the soil of Potohar has his mother’s blood and sweat in it. “People of Potohar are not being given their due rights,” PPP chairman said. He also swore to stand by their side and fight for their rights.

1.50 pm

The PPP convoy has reached Gujjar Khan where an even bigger number of supporters had been waiting for their beloved chairman. The convoy has stopped for the past ten minutes because a huge number of ‘Jiyalas’ are impatiently waiting to catch a glance of Bilawal.

Two of the former prime ministers of PPP, Yousaf Raza Gilani and Raja Pervez Ashraf, have also welcomed the chairman’s cavalcade. Bilawal walked out of his car to wave at his supporters. He is surrounded by scores of enthusiastic party workers and supporters who are all going to join the rally all the way to Mirpur.

Photo credit: Shahzad Shafi