LARKANA: Pakistan Peoples Party chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari said on Friday that the 18th Amendment was in danger as it was being attacked from different sides, but all opposition parties were firm in their resolve to foil these attacks.

Speaking at a public gathering held in Karampur to observe the first death anniversary of PPP leader Mir Hazar Khan Bijarani, Mr Bhutto-Zardari said he would not compromise on human rights and economic rights of the masses and vowed to continue the struggle for promotion of democracy.

He said that PPP founder Zulfikar Ali Bhutto had given the nation the 1973 Constitution which was abrogated by Gen Ziaul Haq, to be restored only after the struggle led by Benazir Bhutto.

Linking the Benazir Income Support Prog­ramme to Z.A. Bhutto’s slogan of Roti, Kapra aur Makan, Mr Bhutto-Zardari said the programme had been praised by the entire world for bringing down poverty level in Pakistan.

Paying tribute to Mr Bijarani, he said that the late leader had participated in the political struggle with three generations of PPP leaders. Praising the political commitment and services of Mr Bijarani, he urged the new generation to continue his (Bijrani’s) struggle.

Speaking to reporters after addressing the rally, the PPP chairman criticised Prime Minister Imran Khan for selecting Usman Buzdar as the Punjab chief minister. Referring to the premier’s recent remarks in which he compared the chief minister with former cricketer Wasim Akram, Mr Bhutto-Zardari said even the cricketer was asking what was his fault. “In cricket matches, it’s the umpire’s will and in politics, it is the will of the nation that decides the outcome,” he said.

“There were a lot of hopefuls for the seat of Punjab chief minister but in the last minute Buzdar Saheb turned up,” he continued. “What is it about Buzdar that the prime minister supports him ardently?” the PPP chairman questioned.

Speaking on the occasion, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah said that the country was experiencing difficult days as the federal government had burdened the nation with skyrocketing prices.

He said Sindh was not receiving fair treatment from the Centre as it was not getting ample water, electricity and gas. However, he added, the PPP would secure rights of Sindh under the leadership of Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and Asif Ali Zardari.

Later, the chief minister, accompanied by Imtiaz Shaikh and others, arrived in Ratodero and offered condolences to the sons of Deedar Hussain Shah, a former judge of the Supreme Court.

Published in Dawn, February 2nd, 2019