Daily Times

KARACHI/GARHI KHUDA BUX: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Monday called Nawaz Sharif a bigger threat to democracy.

Speaking on the 37th death anniversary of former premier Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto in Ghari Khuda Bakhsh, Bilawal criticised Prime Minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif over the policies and departure of former president Pervez Musharraf. He said God is the one who blesses or disgrace people and He is the one who unveils the oppressors. Bilawal said his grandfather was executed on judicial orders and had been kept behind the bars for 11 years. He said his execution was not the “murder” of a single personality but the murder of humanity, democracy and the constitution.

“Bhutto’s crime was to rescue 90,000 Pakistani prisoners and give the first constitution to Pakistan,” he said. Bilawal blamed Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for letting Musharraf leave the country and said that the court has been enquiring about the arrival of Musharraf in Pakistan. He asked why were Musharraf and Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto dealt with under “separate systems”. He said Nawaz Sharif had committed to break the traditions but has taken the biggest amount of loans in the history of Pakistan. Loans worth Rs 3 to 4 trillion have been taken in three years. “Poor is asking for bread but the government is providing them metro bus and metro train,” he remarked.

The PPP chief said Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto gave political consciousness to the public. “Nobody could challenge Pakistan during the era of Bhutto.” He said Bhutto had worked hard to make Pakistan a true Islamic state. Bilawal and a large number of PPP central and provincial party leaders paid rich tributes to Bhutto over his struggle for the downtrodden people of the country. The workers reached the mausoleum of Bhutto family and offered Quran khawani and Fateha at the graves. Party workers and local leaders gathered at the mausoleum.

PPP MNAs, MPAs, senators, leaders, workers with caravans attended a public rally at Garhi Khuda Bux on the occasion. CCTVs cameras were installed at the entry and exit points of the mausoleum along with walk-through gates. Everyone was checked through metal detectors and watchtowers. A control room was set up to monitor all the activities throughout the sensitive places. While paying homage to his grandfather, Bilawal said the large number of people gathering from across the province in this far-flung area is a testament of their support for the party’s founder. “I also ask the establishment and political leaders why the founder of the party [PPP] was judicially killed 37 years ago from today,” he added.