PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Sunday lambasted his political opponents — the PML-N and the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) — and urged the masses to defeat them in the upcoming October 26 by-polls in the NA-4 constituency, DawnNews reported.

The PPP chairman was addressing a political convention in Peshawar ahead of the NA-4 by-polls, in which 15 candidates are contesting. The seat had fallen vacant following the death of a disgruntled PTI MNA, Gulzar Khan.

Bilawal said the PML-N and the PTI were misleading the nation with false claims of prosperity and provision of facilities to the masses, whereas, the provincial government of Sindh, where the PPP is ruling, has been facilitating the citizens.

Defending the PPP government, he alleged that problems were created in the implementation of Benazir Income Support Programme. "Hospitals and trauma centres are being established in Sindh to provide free healthcare facilities," he added.

He was of the view that both Nawaz Sharif and Imran Khan were befooling the people. "He [Imran Khan] is the biggest lair I have ever seen. They enjoy the politics of unrest. Khan is even unable to control his tongue," he maintained.

"The PTI and the PML-N have polluted the politics," said Bilawal.

Lambasting the PML-N, he said that the development claims made by the PML-N are nothing but just a deception. "The fact is that only the assets of PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif, not the country, were progressing."

"I want to ask you [Nawaz Sharif ] what is progress. Not even a single social class is happy with your policies. From trader to shopkeeper and from factory worker to mill owner, from grower to employees to pensioners, all are concerned," he said.

"Imran Khan was declaring terrorists his brothers at a time when our soldiers were being slaughtered," he said.

The PPP chairman raised a question that why mega corruption was not being probed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. "Imran Khan wants to prove himself as innocent while accusing others of corruption."

The PTI was misleading masses in connection with the health and education sectors, he said and added that "the PTI intends to privatise public sector schools and hospitals".

"Quality education and health facilities are a responsibility of the state, so both the facilities should be provided to the people free of cost," he said.

Economy suffering under burden of loans, says Shah

Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly Khursheed Shah said on Sunday that the economy of the country was suffering as loans were being sought to run the government.

Addressing a gathering in Sukkur, Shah said that billions were being spent to fight terrorism — a product of Gen Zia’s policies — in the tribal areas.

The PPP government had “handed over Gwadar to China” and made other decisions so that the country’s children may prosper, said Shah. However, following the PPP’s rule, the people of the country were facing unemployment and the farmers were suffering.