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LAHORE: In his first solo visit to the province, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) patron-in-chief Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Thursday reached Chiniot as part of his visit to flood-affected areas.
Flanked by Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Bilawal also visited embankments of relief camps at Sukkur Barrage.
Bilawal resumed political activities after a break of almost one year with a luncheon meeting with journalists in Karachi on Tuesday. While his trip to Lahore had twice been postponed owing to security reasons, his arrival today suggests he is set to wade into political mainstream.
His planned visit to Lahore in April was cancelled at the eleventh hour because of developments on the national scene after the attack on TV anchor Hamid Mir in Karachi. He was to stay in Lahore for a week, along with his father.
He recently announced his decision to take part in the 2018 general elections from late Benazir Bhutto's seat of Ratedero in Larkana.
While the Bhutto scion had earlier distanced himself from politics, in an interview with BBC earlier this year, nearly 26-year-old Bilawal said that the assassination of his mother in 2007 had changed things. He launched his political career on Benazir’s fifth death anniversary, in December 2012.
Also read: Bilawal to contest 2018 elections from Benazir's home constituency
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On DawnNews
Comments (62) Closed
Sep 18, 2014 04:06pm
Now thats great publicity stunt by him , Bilawal mate , i have studied from london too but i have to work hard to earn my bread and butter and pay taxes , where as on other hand you are enjoying protocols , helicopter services , neither i nor your common pakistani can enjoy a life like you.. So please Mate spare us ..
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Sep 18, 2014 04:11pm
I don't know what would have been happened had there been no Bilawal, Zardari or Qayam ali shah. These people are so generous and philanthropists. We are so proud to have them. I am sure other countries can use there services too.
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Sep 18, 2014 04:19pm
Generation after generation, two Royal families rules Pakistan.
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Sep 18, 2014 04:20pm
Inshallah PM 2018 lol
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Sep 18, 2014 04:21pm
Our prayer with you pakistan need young leader inshallah next PM 2018 you
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Sep 18, 2014 04:28pm
@Rizwan his grand father and Ma and Mamoo give life for Pakistan we all love him
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Sep 18, 2014 04:31pm
Oligarchy has ruled our country for so long ...in fact all systems are oligarchy. There is no other.The tyranny of a prince in an oligarchy is not so dangerous to the public welfare as the apathy of a citizen in a democracy.
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Sep 18, 2014 04:35pm
The media such as DAWN is equally responsible for promoting dynasty rule by covering every little detail about these corrupt and nonsense individuals. Thank you for not covering what time they wake up and go to bathroom.
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Sep 18, 2014 05:06pm
A useless photo sessions just like CM Punjab by yet another landlord of the country whose party is ruling a province so long without any public welfare activity. I am amazed how he will talk to people there as he cant speak even Urdu properly.
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Sep 18, 2014 05:15pm
I wonder how the construction on his Rs 5 Billion (yes it is Billion), 126 Kanal Bilawal House in Lahore is coming up. The house also has a helipad and airstrip for landing of small planes. It has the capacity of accommodating around 10,000 people. Maybe he can give temporary accommodation to some of the people who have lost their houses or maybe he can donate the palace to the cause of poor people. Being such a great philanthropist, one can expect anything from him. We are watching you Bilawal.
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Sep 18, 2014 05:26pm
@Asif you hit the nail right on the head
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Sep 18, 2014 05:42pm
@Asif exactly
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Sep 18, 2014 05:46pm
@Bilkis bawaney . First thing is first , dont judge or follow the monarch soon yous will trip down on face , .. Bawaney see if thats so then my parents have worked all their life as doctors and never got any Nishan-e-pakistan , or any tamgha, so you are trying to tell me , get killed and increase your family's dynasty , oh please mate wake up , we know who is corrupt . anyways , i dont care , i just want to see my Pakistan polishing up thts it..
Cheerio ..
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Sep 18, 2014 05:49pm
Political leadership in Pakistan has always been "safarshis" or "sons of the ruling elite".
On the other hand the military leadership has to work their way up.
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Sep 18, 2014 05:55pm
On waht capacity, as a son of an ex President or Party Chairman, I don't care, but why so much publicity and why on Tax payers money, he and his entourage is using Public Transport, is there and check and balance in Pakistan?
Bilawal - you have been educated in Oxford, was there any subject on this to study about use of tax payers money for your personal publicity? It was far better if you would have never received education from this prestigious University, very bad you have sent a wrong signal to the Oxford???
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Sep 18, 2014 05:56pm
If pakistan wants to get rid of Lords & royal families from ruling them in turns then you need to have a party who has a national appeal & acts a genuine national party & commits itself for land reforms & growth of all regions & jobs on merit. Btw PTI is not an answer as it lacks political maturity & acts like old wine in new bottle
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Sep 18, 2014 06:01pm
@Bilkis bawaney
No sir. No matter what you say. It's power struggle that lead to their deaths. After all it's intoxicating.
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Sep 18, 2014 06:08pm
this is time now to show all these people their true values. whoever makes their publicity on dead bodies of innocent people, the common people should throw them out now. It has been enough now.
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Sep 18, 2014 06:20pm
@One Nation
Please point those out ,,, how did they get money for that ??? our ordinary people are soooo stupid they fall for this all the time,,,
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Sep 18, 2014 06:36pm
Sun will be shining bright, floods will recede, there will plenty of food and Bilwal will give 10 lakhs to everyone affected by the flood to rebuild their lives.
Think not. Just looking to steal more from the country at the earliest
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Sep 18, 2014 06:53pm
Naana hung by a dictator , mother assassinated , 2 uncles killed by who knows who and here he is. Lived all his life outside Pakistan. Can't speak Urdu well. Yet he's told that he has a family seat in the assembly. And he fell for it.
If I was his dad -- I would keep him as far away as possible from politics. But Zardari has opted not to. Shows you how intoxicating power is.
Anyways. I think it would be very difficult for him to gather public support in Punjab like his mother and Bhutto did. For started he needs to communicate well
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Sep 18, 2014 06:57pm
A politician should be the one who has done some sort of public service before they come into power whether it could be military as a soldier, preacher, teacher, philanthropy etc. What does he has to work for. Everything was given to him in a plate. He cannot associate himself with a common Pakistani. Look at any developed democracies around the world and their respective leaders. They all have come from Public sector where they have served or associated with common people on form or another. It is very easy to build a hospital, university etc or walk in floods when you are in power. Question is what did you do for the people before entering politics or holding any office.
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Sep 18, 2014 06:57pm
What an eye wash ! cut it Mate, we are not stupid. Days of manipulating the people of Pakistan are over Mate.
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Sep 18, 2014 06:58pm
@One Nation well said.
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Sep 18, 2014 06:58pm
@Bilkis bawaney - They didn't give their life in a battlefield. It was greed to get crowned or stay at the throne. Its herd mentality like yours that Badshahat still exists.
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Sep 18, 2014 07:01pm
@Kashmiri then what else.once pti come to power then step by step we will go towards right direction. then inshaa Allah we have such political parties that will understand well the national demands. to get rid of current corrupt politics we have to vote for pti.
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Sep 18, 2014 07:02pm
@Kashmiri - There is no such party...keep waiting till eternity. Common sense demands to choose lesser of two evils if that is the only choice - PTI.
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Sep 18, 2014 07:03pm
Just another useless photo session.
PPP and PML-N are the same.
Go Nawaz Go
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Sep 18, 2014 07:13pm
Look Daddy, I went on a day trip to see lots of water and then flew back to Dubai to write an essay!
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Sep 18, 2014 07:15pm
It is just so sad we value people with money, land, family name (related to Bhutto), etc. Instead we should be looking at what they have done for the country and its people. We should be looking at their attributes, are they honest, are they educated enough to make sound decisions, their past history, accomplishments, etc. Unfortunately, if we apply these criteria Mr. Zardari, Bilawal and Qayam Ali Shah won’t make it any place.
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Sep 18, 2014 07:16pm
burger is here in Punjab now
I wonder whether he has a "family seat" here in Punjab too ???
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Sep 18, 2014 07:19pm
These people follow him around like a herd of mindless sheep..when will the Pakistani people wake up? Utter shame
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Sep 18, 2014 07:31pm
@Rizwan He should be thrown into the river and left alone.
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Sep 18, 2014 07:40pm
@Rizwan No one is stopping you from serving the people of Pakistan which is the path Bilawal Bhutto has taken. So spare this sarcasm.
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Sep 18, 2014 07:42pm
@Sajid
So you want to induct 3d family whose links are with our enemies
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Sep 18, 2014 07:51pm
@One Nation
It is still smaller than 300 kanal house of Ik built with the money of Zakat and Fitra collected in the name of SKH . I think he set an example by distributing this land to IDPs?
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Sep 18, 2014 07:56pm
@Munir
Sorry to say that promotions in army are also taking place thru one of these criteria
1 To be relative of some high up in army like son, or nephew of a general
2 run-thru
3 sell your soul to our biggest enemy
All other folks who commissioned retire less than Brigadier rank.
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Sep 18, 2014 08:03pm
@Sher
Oxford teach different tactics to use others money for personal objectives. As BB is using tax payers money for showing his sympathy to flood hit areas Ik is using zakat and Fitra money to show how much he can damage the Pakistan to become PM
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Sep 18, 2014 08:07pm
I don't see flood victims in the pictures. I only see political victims of last general election.
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Sep 18, 2014 08:10pm
@Rizwan I couldn't agree more. This boy (or shall I call him a little man!!) has never worked for a day in his life. We are also not sure what educational qualifications does he has (not that anyone in Pakistan has to have education to be a leader!!). I am not sure what skills does he have. Having seen him speak, I wonder if even has the skills his grandfather had. He is only good for one thing. To rule illiterate Pakistanis with his silly remarks. Most politicians in Pakistan speak cheap point scoring language which most educated Pakistanis find unbelievable. His skills are unknown to most Pakistanis and time has come for politicians in Pakistan to change and change immediately. Otherwise, they will all be kicked out, literally. Enough is enough.
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Sep 18, 2014 08:38pm
Babycracy of Paksitani democracy as endorsed by PPP visits Punjab. Shame that Rabbani and Aitezas Hassan have to received the baby to entertain those who are stuck in the troubled water. Is there any sense to democracy in Pakistan. Where are the jialas of PPP. Don't you have some thinking to do?
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Sep 18, 2014 08:40pm
Such stupid coverage highlights the fact that pure democracy doesn't work when most awam are illiterate. We need an oligarchy of the benign, enlightened and good administrators. Similar to what Ding Xiao Ping was to China or Meiji Restoration (circa 1867) did for Japan. May God blessed us with some genuinely caring leaders like M A Jinnah...
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Sep 18, 2014 08:43pm
Is this kid mature now? He is allowed to travel alone.
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Sep 18, 2014 08:46pm
@Kashmiri It is better than anyone else, Imran Khan has created Shaukat KhanumHospital, name one such project where poor people are benefitted directly and done by any government!!!!!
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Sep 18, 2014 08:50pm
BilawalBhuttoZardari @BBhuttoZardari
Follow
Prayed at a Sukkur dargah for our people to be safe from the floods and those affected by the floods #Punjab #Sind
I wonder from what madrassa he graduated!!!
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Sep 18, 2014 09:10pm
To all those, who write against the 'Elite Class', 'VIP Culture', and 'Unjust Rulers'. Your comments will not make a difference to deaf ears of our rulers. I suggest you all involve in active politics. Go join Imran in Dharna, come out of your drawing rooms. Honestly, Imran is asking for people to come out, Change will remain a dream.......
Remember, you all are guilty as this type of behavior is only strengthening the rulers, elite and VIP class.
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Sep 18, 2014 09:13pm
These people have no idea about the mood of the nation. The growing educated class will not allow the masses to be fooled anymore. The name Bhutto or Sharif will not help you but will ensure you are kicked into touch by the people.
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Sep 18, 2014 09:19pm
@Nadeem
When people have money especially in billions. The onus is on to them to declare and prove that the money is legal. If they don't or if they can't --- they go to jail in the real world. When taxes are collected , government doesn't come with the proof ---the government sees the money and ask for explanations. So it would be relevant to ask how much tax did Zardari pay to have money like this. And where did he pay tax, in Pakistan or England or France.
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Sep 18, 2014 09:34pm
Billo is another example of "Shakhsiat Parasti" in our country.
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Sep 18, 2014 09:38pm
@Bilkis bawaney
"his grand father and Ma and Mamoo give life for Pakistan we all love him"
No I do not love him! I absolutely loathe him! Members of my immediate family have died fighting protecting Pakistans borders. Does this make me automatically eligible for the Prime Ministerial seat of Pakistan?..
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Sep 18, 2014 09:50pm
Why is this young man the patron-in-chief of one of the largest political parties in Pak?
Was he elected due to his qualifications and experience, or due to his heritage? May god save Pak from this "democracy".
Why isn't Talat, Dawn etc. Criticisizing this?
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Sep 18, 2014 09:52pm
@Bilkis bawaney they did not give life for Pakistan. Please
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Sep 18, 2014 10:22pm
Now when the floods are receding!!! Too little and too late Zardari junior.
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Sep 18, 2014 10:25pm
@Ahmed ..Yeah sure , provide me with 10 crores , helicopter, with police escort with CM sindh beside me ,and bullet proof cruisers , ill defintly serve my nation..
If yu have to do good , be a good human being first mate..
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Sep 18, 2014 10:49pm
He didnt want to come into politics. Then piyo nai samjhaya puttar ae dhanda sub tun changa
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Sep 18, 2014 10:49pm
Welcome to the real world of politics.
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Sep 18, 2014 10:50pm
Dear Bilawal, if you sell off your undeclared apartment in Kensington and donate the amount to the flood victims, they might actually vote for you in the next election...
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Sep 18, 2014 10:51pm
@Bilkis bawaney
A lot of people gave lives for Pakistan. What is so special about these dynastic rulers ? Get out of this slave mindset!!
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Sep 18, 2014 10:57pm
Only Bilawal can save pakistan.. Agli baar PPP ki hakoomat ayegi.. Inshallah.
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Sep 18, 2014 11:25pm
Welcome Bilawal Bhutto to the land of Punjab, please bring us back the Punjab we use to have in Bhutto´s time. More Power!
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Sep 18, 2014 11:48pm
My advice to Bilawal, start a political turmiol, and on start , like your Nana, on first time launch, in one day, address to Sind,karachi, Punjab Lahore, KPK Peshawar and Balouchistan Quetta. Let us move.
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Sep 19, 2014 05:27am
Excellent opportunity to show your true love for people of Pakistan by doing one of these good deeds. (1) Donate 10% of your wealth for poor people of Pakistan. (2) Announce to open 100 primary schools (free education) for poor children of Pakistan (3) Announce to open 10 big hospitals for poor people of Pakistan (4) Announce to open 25 technical training institutes for skill development of poor young generation, free of charge, (5) Announce to support 10,000 poor orphans of Pakistan upto an age of 18 years (6) Announce to support 10,000 widows of the country for next 10 years. PLEASE DO IT WITH YOUR MONEY. That would show your love for people of Pakistan. Please do it before returning back to London. Good man.
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