BADIN: Insisting that “politics runs in my blood”, chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari advised Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chief Imran Khan on Tuesday to himself learn politics and become a mature politician instead of teaching “fish how to swim”.

Speaking at a big public gathering at Allahwala Chowk here, he strongly criticised the PTI chief and asked him to mend his ways if he wanted to grow as a politician.

When he arrived at DC Chowk in Badin after travelling a distance of 32 kilometres from Golarchi town in an hour and a half, Mr Bhutto-Zardari was showered with rose petals by hundreds of party workers. The participants in the rally marching on different roads reached Allahwala Chowk in the city.

In his speech, the PPP chairman said he would continue to stand by the people of Badin as they had always stood by his grandfather Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and his mother Benazir Bhutto and now by him.

“Some of my uncles have deceived me and my party. Those who called my mother their sister have left me and joined anti-Sindh elements like Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim and leaders of the PML-N [Pakistan Muslim League],” he said without naming Dr Zulfikar Ali Mirza and others.

He said no one could defeat the PPP in Badin and other parts of Sindh and hoped that the people of Badin would never deceive him and “the party of the martyrs”. Mr Bhutto-Zardari said that now he would serve the people by being more active in politics.

He said the PPP had always brought about change from Zulfikar Ali Bhutto to his slain mother. He said a big achievement was made by his party in 2008 when retired Gen Pervez Musharraf was forced to quit office. He said only arrow, the election symbol of the PPP, would defeat all in the second phase of the local government elections. The PPP chairman said his party believed in politics of peace so he would never allow anybody to resort to bloodshed and rigging elections. He said the people of 14 districts of three regions would also elect their candidates with a thumping majority.

Mr Bhutto-Zardari claimed that the PPP government in Sindh was serving the people selflessly and hoped that after the LG polls the elected members would leave no stone unturned to serve the people. He said the PPP had always been the party of the peasants, labourers and the poor and believed in serving them.

Sindh information minister Nisar Ahmed Khuhro, provincial minister Dr Sikandar Ali Mandhro, Senator Aajiz Dhamrah, Senator Karim Khwaja, MNA Sardar Kamal Chang, Syed Pappu Shah, Bibi Yasmin Shah, Hina Dastagir and other lawmakers and leaders of the party received their leader. A large number of people from parts of Badin and other districts took part in the rally.

Strict security measures were in place in Badin and Golarchi during the rally and public gathering in Badin city. Heavy contingents of police and Rangers were deployed in both towns and at sensitive points on the route of the caravan of Mr Bhutto-Zardari.

Published in Dawn, November 18th, 2015