Zardari, Bilawal sing different tunes

ISLAMABAD: The politically experienced papa and novice son sang different tunes about the Nawaz Sharif government on the death anniversary of the heroic founder of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), Zulfikar Ali Bhutto (ZAB), which may be confusing its rank and file.

Asif Ali Zardari was soft, accommodating and cooperative and wanted to see the government living its full five-year term till 2018. He did not find fault with any of its policy. During his opposition days, Nawaz Sharif repeatedly provided solid props to Zardari to have his full tenure in government.

Aggressive Bilawal Bhutto Zardari was worried watching “the Punjab being held hostage by terrorists,” and deplored its privatisation policy, believing that the nation’s house was being auctioned without taking it into confidence. “If the government cannot run the country, does this mean we should sell it?”

However, Zardari approved the son’s attack saying that he was free to formulate the PPP policies but stated that Bilawal too would never allow derailing of democracy. Although he calls the tune in the PPP, he declared the young boy’s defiant line as something independent.

Conversely, in the past Nawaz Sharif, at times, publicly disapproved the frequent harsh attack of his brother Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Zardari when the latter was president and the PML-N was in opposition. Bilawal is indeed convinced in the heart of hearts that Taliban must be dealt with severely and the government must abandon the peace talks with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). But he doesn’t realise that as the dialogue process is in full swing, his harangue is highly damaging the prospects of the release of the sons each one of his former prime minister and slain Punjab governor. He has the right to criticise the government the way he likes, but may have mercy on the kidnapped boys for a while. He has ample time at his disposal to project his policy vis-à-vis Taliban.

However, the PPP patron-in-chief forgets that it was the very government of his own party during whose rule talks were held with different militant groups including those in Swat. Had he presented the pearls of wisdom the way he has been doing for some time now, his government might have come out with somewhat better performance, and the PPP would have been saved from what it faced in the last general elections.

“Sighted persons are asking the blind to lead them in the name of talks; our party would not bow down to savages or tolerate their dictatorship,” he said at the death anniversary congregation. “The Taliban are deceiving everyone in the name of talks. Terrorists want to take away our identity and existence. People are asking for a way out from the blind alley. What did we do that the history is not willing to forgive us?”

Unfortunately, Bilawal talked about the $1.5 billion Saudi grant in an immature manner, but by doing so, he followed his party line that has often been propounded by leader of opposition Khursheed Shah despite explanations given by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar. Friends, which come to Pakistan’s rescue at difficult times, need to be treated differently rather than being taunted.

Zardari stated that the PPP did not want any damage to democracy as some forces have remained keen to ensure a clash among politicians. The practice of making attempts to use others through deception has always been employed, but he said he never got infuriated whenever anyone tried to provoke him.

About the Taliban, he said both talks and war would continue simultaneously. “But a time will come when we will have to go for an all-out war.”

Blind being followed in the name of talks: Bilawal

 

GARHI KHUDA BAKHSH: PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Friday said sighted persons were asking the blind to lead them in the name of talks, adding that his party would not bow down to savages and tolerate their dictatorship.
Addressing a public gathering at Garhi Khuda Bakhsh on the occasion of the 35th death anniversary of the party founder Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Bilawal said the Taliban were deceiving everyone in the name of talks. He said the negotiations were being held with those who had termed Quaid-e-Azam ‘Kafir-e-Azam’.

“Those who leveled allegations against the PPP are politicking over children’s bodies,” he added. Bilawal alleged that Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif only issued statements and made false promises when he visited Tharparkar. He claimed the premier’s team had stopped providing aid to the drought-hit Thar people.

He said the nation had reached a point of history where uncertainty was the rule and fear ruled every heart. “Terrorists want to take away our identities and existence,” he said, adding that people were asking for a way out from the blind alley. “What did we do that the history is not willing to forgive us?” he asked the audience.

Bilawal said Pakistan was facing multiple crises because the nation had buried a man 35 years ago who was like a beacon of light to the nation.“Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was a philosophy and an ideology; he was the man upon whom the poor relied,” he said, adding that his grandfather had transformed the country into a nuclear power.

Bilawal said he was worried while watching the Punjab being held hostage by terrorists. He said it wouldn’t have been the case if ZA Bhutto had been alive. “Pakistan needs a Bhutto once again today,” he remarked.

Lamenting the privatisation policy, Bilawal said the nation’s house was being auctioned without taking it into confidence. “If the government cannot run the country, does this mean we should sell it?” he asked.

Bilawal also criticised the PML-N government for abandoning the Pak-Iran Gas Pipeline Project. He questioned what price Pakistan had to pay for the money paid by a friendly country.He said the Pakistan Army was not the personal property of anyone. “Is the money given by a friendly country the price of heads of our Jawans? Our war is still underway and you are jumping into other countries’ wars,” he remarked.

He said unlike the silence of the Punjab government on the Joseph Colony incident, the PPP government in Sindh would not remain silent on demolition of temples.“Damaging and burning minorities’ worship places is not Islam,” he said, adding that he and his party workers would stand by the minorities if anybody tried to attack them. He urged the chief ministers of Balochistan, Sindh and KP to demand their respective provinces’ share of assets from the Centre.

Online adds: Speaking on the occasion, former president and Co-Chairman PPP Asif Ali Zardari on Friday recalled that the agreements signed by his government with China, the US and other countries and said the present rulers were now enjoying its benefits but the country was still facing the energy crisis .

Zardari paid tributes to ZA Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto for their sacrifices for the country and for never compromising with the military dictators.He also eulogised Bilawal for leading the caravan of Bhutto legacy. He raised the hands of a PPP candidate for PS-35 and asked the people of Larkana to vote for him and support him.

PPP parliamentarians and leaders including Syed Khursheed Shah, Raza Rabbani, Aitzaz Ahsan, Syed Qaim Ali Shah and others also addressed the event.The 35th death anniversary of ZA Bhutto was observed with reverence and respect. Thousands of party workers and leaders paid tributes to their legendary leader.

Sana claims Rehman Malik penned threat letter to Bilawal

LAHORE: Punjab Law Minister, Rana Sanaullah made a startling claim on Sunday, saying former interior minister Rehman Malik authored the letter containing threats to Pakistan People’s Party Patron-in-Chief, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.

Rana Sana was replying to a question while talking to media persons after laying a foundation stone for Thalassemia Center here.

“The initial investigation has revealed that the threat letter was penned by Rehman Malik,” he claimed.

He said Rehman Malik had been making moves in the previous five years win an aim to cause damage to the Punjab Government.

Bilawal Bhutto Zardari had claimed in a Twitter message on Thursday that he had received ‘a threat letter’ from the proscribed Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ).

The Punjab Law Minister assured that fool-proof security would be provided to Bilawal Bhutto Zardari if he undertook a visit to Punjab province.

On the ongoing peace process between the government and Taliban militants, he said the TTP appeared serious and hoped that the ceasefire would be extended.

Khursheed warns of disaster if something happens to Bilawal

 

ISLAMABAD: Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Syed Khursheed Shah has said that there would be a disaster if something happened to Bilawal Bhutto.
He said that an anchor of a private television channel was attacked in Lahore the day after Bilawal Bhutto received an intimidating letter.Talking to the media here, he asked how Bilawal could undertake a visit to the Punjab under these circumstances.

The Punjab government should take suitable steps in this regard, he said. He said that Zardari never applied for the return of any locket and Benazir Bhutto had also denied any connection with any such locket. The jeweller had also confirmed what Benazir had said.

He said former president Pervez Musharraf had become a bone stuck in the throat of the government. “If he goes out ofthe country, there will be no harm because people have gone out of the country earlier also,” he said.Shah advised Hamza Shahbaz to avoid issuing statements instigating differences amongst the political parties because brotherhood between them should continue.

He refuted the news of Bilawal becoming the chief minister of Sindh. He explained that the PPP was a party at the federation level and not a provincial party. Bilawal would come at the federal level.

Referring to the talks process between the Taliban and the government, he said so far they had not been taken into confidence. “We have come to know about the talks process through newspapers,” he said. He said similar talks should also he held with the Baloch leaders.

Shahbaz asked to probe LeJ threats to Bilawal

ISLAMABAD: Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Syed Khursheed Shah on Friday wrote a letter to Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif expressing his concern over a threatening letter to the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari from the banned Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ).

The opposition leader requested the chief minister to investigate the matter and take action in this regard.“I would like to draw your attention to an important issue regarding the threatening letter received by PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari from proscribed outfit LeJ. This is an issue of utmost importance and PPP is taking this as a matter of great concern,” Shah wrote.

The opposition leader stated in the letter that in the past, the PPP had faced irreparable losses due to terrorist activities and now the party was not in a position to risk the life of its leader. “I expect that Punjab government shall take this matter seriously and a detailed inquiry be initiated at a higher level in this regard,” he added.

Shah stated he would be grateful if immediate action was taken at this point.Meanwhile, the PPP submitted a condemnation resolution in the National Assembly Secretariat over the threatening letter.

The resolution signed by all the PPP legislators stated: “This House strongly condemns the life threats given to PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and demands immediate action against the proscribed outfit Lashkar-e-Jhangvi.”

Meanwhile, the Sindh Assembly adopted a resolution with unanimous vote to condemn the LeJ’s threatening letter to Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. The resolution moved by Dr Abdul Sattar Rajper also urged the Sindh government to approach the federal government to take a serious notice of the threatening letter and take necessary precautions for ensuring safety and protection of the life of the PPP chairman.

Sindh Assembly passes resolution against threats to Bilawal

 

KARACHI: The Sindh Assembly on Friday unanimously passed a resolution condemning a threatening letter received by PPP Patron-in-Chief Bilawal Bhutto Zardari from the outlawed Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ).
In a related development, a special security squad has been detailed for Bilawal following the threats by the LeJ.PPP MPA Abdul Sattar presented the resolution which condemned the threatening letter received by his party chief. The resolution was unanimously passed by the assembly.

Speaker Agha Siraj Durrani said the situation had become clear after the threats to the PPP chief and added that action should be taken against those terrorists who had been identified.Another MPA Irfanullah Khan Marwat from the PML-N claimed that the threatening letter to Bilawal was an attempt to sabotage the dialogue process between the government and the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan. He further claimed that every time steps were taken for the betterment, such conspiring elements became active.

On the other hand, a special security squad has been formed for the PPP patron-in-chief following the LeJ’s threatening letter. Sources told Online the Sindh government had chalked out a special security plan under which 30 special commandoes would perform duties for his security while three bullet-proof vehicles had also been allotted in this regard.

Bilawal in a tweet on Thursday claimed that he had received threats from the LeJ and he would hold the Punjab government responsible if it continued to provide protection to the group and refused to take action against them. Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif took notice of the tweet and directed the Punjab Police chief to probe the matter. Later, the Punjab IGP contacted Bilawal who appreciated the prompt action of Shahbaz over the threat given to him and other party leaders.

The Punjab chief minister had directed the concerned officials to probe the matter. It is worth noting that Bilawal has been the most vocal and the boldest voice among the Pakistani political leadership against the militant groups since the start of his political career last year.

Meanwhile, PML-N leader Hamza Shahbaz, while answering a question outside the Parliament House about the threats to Bilawal, said, “We pray to Allah Almighty for the safety of everyone.” However, he said that it would not be appropriate to accuse anyone without having solid proof.

He also spoke to a private TV channel where he accused Bilawal of issuing senseless statements and added that there should be no politics on important national issues such as terrorism. “May Allah protect Bilawal Bhutto Zardari,” prayed Hamza.

According to Hamza, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif did not play politics on the issue of Thar and instead visited the drought-affected district of Sindh.

This triggered a harsh response from the PPP, as Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Memon said it would be better for Hamza to advise the federal government and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to refrain from bowing before the terrorists rather than issuing statements against Bilawal. Sharjeel said the PML N leader should keep his advice to himself as the government’s ‘reconciliation policy’ with the Taliban had raised serious concerns among the 180 million Pakistanis.

He described the ongoing negotiations with the terrorists as an insult to the Constitution and said Hamza should listen to the heirs of families whose loved ones sacrificed their lives to safeguard the country. –Agencies

Meanwhile, Manzoor Wattoo, President, PPP Punjab, in a statement issued here on Friday said that the PPP workers were upset and agitated over the life threat given to Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari by the LeJ adding that the response of the Punjab government on this was equally disappointing. He called upon the Punjab government to take action against the terrorist organisation that had safe havens in the Punjab. He described the statement of Hamza Shahbaz Sharif on the matter as in bad taste.

MQM keen on joining Sindh government: Bilawal

KARACHI: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) patron-in-chief, Bilawal Bhutto Zaradi in a message Twitter said the MQM was keen on joining the provincial government in Sindh.

Bilawal tweeted it would be impossible to work with the MQM if they did not retract their support for martial law and breaking Sindh.

On Wednesday, MQM leader Faisal Sabzwari said talks between his party and the PPP were holding discussions over joining the provincial government. Sabzwari added

A meeting was also held on Wednesday between Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah, Former Interior Minister Rehman Malik and Governor Sindh Dr Ishratul Ebad wherein relations between the PPP and MQM were discussed.

Bilawal visits Thar but where is Mr Asif Ali Zardari?

Bilawal visits Tharparker but where is PPP’s top leader and former President Asif Ali Zardari when dozens of innocent children have died because of lack of food and medical care caused by the callous indifference of his party’s government in the province?

Apparently the former president has vanished during these testing times for the people of Thar as not even a single statement has been issued by Asif Ali Zardari, who is said to be in Dubai which is just over an hour long flight from Karachi.

Silence on part of the PPP’s topmost leader on this crisis situation of national importance and global embarrassment is badly felt by all and sundry when already Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has toured the affected areas and the Supreme Court had taken suo moto notice of the situation.

Neither the PPP media cell nor Zardari spokesperson of any of his partymen has even bothered to issue a statement on his behalf. Such press statements on different issues on Asif Ali Zardari’s behalf has been issued even in the recent past but on Thar’s killing of dozens of children not a word of sympathy or condemnation has been issued by the former president.

The last press statement of Zardari was dated March 8. Issued on the eve of international women’s day, former President Zardari had called upon the government to remove the impediments in the way of smooth functioning of the National Commission on the Status of Women to enable it function freely and effectively for the purposes for which it was set up to protect the social, economic, political and legal rights of women.

On March 5 the former president paid rich tributes to young lawyer Fizza Malik who was martyred by the terrorists in an attack in Islamabad court.On these dates March 5 and March 8 the issue of Thar had already come into focus of the media but still it did not catch the eyes of Zardari, who has been often using Sindh card during his party’s rule at the centre.

The reported death of over hundred children in Thar because of non-provision of food by the PPP government in Sindh, has jolted the whole of Pakistan. As soon the media focused on this crisis, which speaks volumes of the incompetence and apathy of the provincial government, the prime minister, the chief justice of Pakistan, the chief justice of Sindh High Court and others immediately took serious notice of this act of human catastrophe.

The media pressure made the otherwise “inactive” and “sleeping” Chief Minister Sindh Qaim Ali Shah to visit the area. Even Bilawal Zardari Bhutto reached Thar on Monday when the prime minister was to tour the area. However, still Asif Ali Zardari remains off the scene. Probably Mr Zardari has adopted the strategy to make his son active.

Although apparently Syed Qaim Ali Shah rules the province, it is generally believed and said that the actual ruler of the province is Asif Ali Zardari.Zardari’s choice men are occupying all the key positions in the province whether those occupied by the politicians or by the serving or retried bureaucrats.