QUETTA: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Sunday claimed that the party would form government at the Centre as well as in provinces after sweeping the next general elections.

“It is certain that a PPP Jiyala will lead next Balochistan government as chief minister,” he said while speaking at a public meeting at Jattak House where former chief minister Nawab Sanaullah Zehri, former federal minister Abdul Qadir Baloch and several other members of the PML-N and other political parties joined the PPP.

Mr Bhutto-Zardari said that the people of Balochistan were energetic and brave and their association with the PPP spanned over three generations.

“People supported Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and made a history. The historic bond was cemented when the people of Balochistan stood shoulder to shoulder with Shaheed Benazir Bhutto. After her martyrdom, they sided with Asif Ali Zardari and now with me,” he said.

Zehri, Qadir Baloch, others join the party

A new generation was joining politics, Mr Bhutto-Zardari said and added: “I want to make history with the youth of Balochistan, Sindh, Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.”

He said that it was a constitutional right of the people of Balochistan, where gas reserves were located, to enjoy the benefit of gas before other provinces.

He recalled that former president Asif Zardari had launched Benazir Income Support Programme to provide financial assistance to the needy women and increased salaries and pensions of government employees, including personnel of the armed forces.

The PPP chairman said that the “puppet and ineligible” Prime Minister Imran Khan’s government was “installed” after that of Nawaz Sharif, but both usurped the rights of the people.

“The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz have been trying to further deprive you of your rights — whether it is the rights granted under the 18th Amendment or under the NFC Award, your island, coast and natural resources. All eyes are set on your resources and there is only one party, the PPP, that knows how to defend your rights.”

The common man had realised that he had been robbed in the name of change as the PTI government had only brought record inflation, poverty, lawlessness and unemployment, he said.

Referring to the suicide attack on Quetta Civil Hospital, he said that several lawyers were martyred in the tragedy five years ago, but their heirs had not yet been provided justice.

The PPP chairman welcomed the leaders, dignitaries and workers who joined the party and said he would keep visiting the province.

Speaking on the occasion, Sanaullah Zehri said that Balochistan would be made a PPP stronghold.

He said that Nawaz Sharif had disrespected them and their only expectation from the PPP was that it would not do what Mr Sharif had done with them.

Earlier, the leaders and dignitaries belonging to different political parties announced their decision to join the PPP. They included former provincial ministers retired Col Younus Changezi, Nawab Mohammad Khan Shahwani and Agha Irfan Karim Ahmadzai, former MPA Kishore Ahmed Jattak, Nawab Mohammad Khan Shahwani, former district nazim of Naseerabad Sardar Changez Sasoli, Sardar Imran Bangalzai of the BNP and former chairman of Khuzdar Mir Abdul Rehman Zehri.

Published in Dawn, August 9th, 2021