LARKANA: Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, chairman of Pakistan Peoples Party, has said the democratic setup cobbled together by forcing candidates of PPP and other political parties to join a particular party will not be accepted.

Bilawal said after cutting cake at the 65th birth anniversary of his slain mother Benazir Bhutto at Begum Nusrat Bhutto Memorial Library here on Thursday that the party opponents were like “mosquitoes feeding on disciples’ blood” and they were indeed traitors and turncoats who had deceived their supporters and well-wishers.

He said the rivals were manoeuvring to capture power through backdoor but Sindh’s sons and daughters had taken the field to defeat the “mosquitoes”.

He said that PPP would fight against the remnants of Zia and Musharraf who had given birth to different franchises having centres at Banigala and Jati Umra.

He said the two were trying to outclass each other in proving themselves true heirs of dictators. One was hiding behind sanctity of vote while the other was waiting for umpire’s finger, he said.

He went on to say that one was born in the lap of a dictator while the other was attempting to become prime minister with the help of Taliban. One had launched war on institutions and the other had cursed the parliament, he said, adding that both were putting up a drama.

He termed turncoats and leaders of anti-PPP alliances seasonal birds and said they would die out after election was over. Only those who stood by people and shed blood for them would survive, he said.

Bilawal criticised attempts to censor media and gag its voice and warned his party would not accept such democracy with censorship. “We do not accept the democracy wherein people go missing,” he said. He said that his mother had lived and died for her soil and people. “We believe in accountability and principled politics directed against hate and extremism,” he said.

NAWABSHAH: Hundreds of party workers and supporters celebrated the 65th birth anniversary of Benazir Bhutto by cutting a cake at Mohni Bazaar.

Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho, sister of PPPP chairman Asif Ali Zardari and a candidate for PS-37 and PPP candidate for PS-38 Chaudhry Tariq Masood Arain said at the gathering that Benazir Bhutto sacrificed her life for democracy and her son Bilawal was continuing her mission to serve people.

MIRPURKHAS: The Mirpurkhas chapter of the PPP celebrated the 65th birth anniversary of the slain party chairperson here on Thursday.

MITHI: PPP activists celebrated the birth anniversary of their slain leader in Mithi, Nagarparkar, Islamkot, Chelhar, Diplo and other towns of the district by cutting cakes.

BADIN: PPP workers gathered at Jamali House in Tando Bago to celebrate birthday of their slain chairperson. Similar events were held in Badin, Talhar, Matli, Golarchi and other towns of the district.

Published in Dawn, June 22nd, 2018