After his party was forced to scrap its planned rallies in Peshawar and Malakand due to mounting security threats, and in solidarity with the victims of Mastung, PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Saturday suspended his party's political activities all over Pakistan.
With Bilawal in KP on a two-day visit, the PPP had planned to stage public gatherings in Peshawar but especially Malakand — a district it has historically done well in and whose NA-9 constituency the Bhutto scion will be contesting the July 25 polls on.
Bilawal was scheduled to leave Peshawar for Malakand this morning, and lead a rally from Sakhakot to Batkhela before addressing a public meeting at Zafar Park in the evening.
However, KP and the neighbouring Balochistan have been hit by three major terrorist attacks this week, together claiming the lives of around 150 people.
As a result, KP's district administration today refused to grant PPP permission to go ahead with its planned events, and advised Bilawal to remain within cantonment areas.
The party's KP chapter secretary information, Senator Rubina Khalid, told DawnNewsTV that marathon discussions were held with the local administration and police but the permission was not granted.
Bilawal then suspended his political activities, although he said he would still go to his constituencies and meet his party's local leadership.
Devastated by continued attacks on innocent Pakistanis. loss of shaheed Siraj Raisani & 120 innocent people in Mastung cannot be in vain must insure this mindset is defeated. Have suspended my political activities in solidarity.
— BilawalBhuttoZardari (@BBhuttoZardari) July 14, 2018
Later on, in a press conference, announcing his decision to suspend political activities, Bilawal expressed grief over the Mastung tragedy and said he could not expose his party's workers to a similar threat.
"120 people are dead in Balochistan; each one of them have families. What would they think when they see me chanting slogans in rallies. I could never do that," he said.
Bilawal also complained of not getting a level playing field, saying: "ANP and BAP can't engage freely in political activities. The PPP is not getting a level playing field either. Not only have we been impeded at various places but my workers have also been pressurised into switching loyalties.
"I have not been given proper media coverage, and I have been repeatedly told to remain within the cantonment areas. How can I campaign in this situation?" he asked.
"This is pre-poll rigging and it would make the results of the elections controversial. But despite all this, we are in the electoral race and will contest the polls."
Regarding the recent terror attacks, Bilawal urged all the stakeholders to "be on the same page" to implement the National Action Plan.
Comments (38) Closed
Good move to avoid any other incident - safety of our politicians and their supporters is paramount!
Safety first.
Since Bilawal and Shehbaz Sharif are under threats so their entire election campaign should be cancelled (for their own safety offcourse)
Safety come first Infact all politicians should cancel their rallies due to security reasons
Good decision. Might be at high risk. No need to go there and provoke people who are already on mourning state.
Sounds like sensible security advice
Safety first.Intelligent move. This time Voters will vote for past performance and not last time convanssing.
This ruling class will never compromise their own security for the country and the people.
If every politician cancels campaigning then what is the security guarantee for ordinary public on the day of elections?? Are ordinary Pakistanis any less important than the elite politician seeking votes??
Why he has been denied to hold rallies in Peshawar and KP. Security personnel with metal detectors should be assigned at all entry points which is the duty of the govt. Its pre election rigging to favor one party.
If free campaigning cannot be done, polls are meaningless. Postpone elections!!!
Mass gatherings are impossible to monitor. Political leaders have to realize that, and stop this, for their own safety and the safety of others. When we know what the reality is, it is obvious what should be done.
The nation is fed up with these faces with no change.
This is the best opportunity Bilawal will get to save face. Seems that PPP has been rejected across 3 provinces. The novice will go home now.
well this explains the struggle of democracy in country.
Only Imran need not change his plans for obvious reasons.....
They have sensed the majority opinion towards PTI so they are making lame excuses. This is basically a groundwork to blame the care taker setup and others immediately after the elections. A face saving strategy indeed.
All these leaders claim the people love them. They are deluding themselves.
All these incidents look like planned to cancel the election.
Anyway winner has already been decided by the deep state, so campaigning won't really matter.
Great gesture by this young political leader.
Than you bilawal very mature decision other should do the same people..TV debate would make more sense in current situation.
@BhaRAT Yes the security of politicians come first. The security of all other 220 million Pakistanis comes second.
i don't know how to respond but i must say that you are the future of Pakistan. Please don't surrender against the undemocratic forces.
Better postpone elections for two years, and squeeze more forcefully the accountability, and clean the mess from politics.
Unfortunately Why we can introduce UK & USA type election campaign where party leaders are invited to debate and explain their manifesto and how they can implement
It is to keep the competitors of the PTI out of the electoral campaign in the KP. Tomorrow they will give security to the PTI meetings.
He should just suspend himself fron politics.
PPP is Sindhi linguistic party. It should focus only in sindh.
He has a long way to go. His mother was more courageous and always took risks. Party needs new faces who can bring new voices and plans for the nation. Riding on family ties should not be the merit for being party leader. Besides his father is in trouble again on corruption involved issues.
good step.
Better stay home and enjoy the billions by your father .
PPP won't be a single seat in KP anyways.
Hope he suspends totally his politics.
Good Job, Now you should go back to England where you belong.
Words of advise for Bilawal Zardari, don't just suspend your political campaign just end the whole thing and do something else please like Edhi style philanthropist. You will get much more love and respect contrary to the politics.
@Hasnain
Mr. Hasnain,
The best advice to Mr. Bilawal Zardari.
Congratulations.
Come on Bilawal, that's not the way a brave man should act!