MULTAN: Pakistan People’s Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has asked the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to stand firm on its just stand on the electronic voting machines.

“Since Imran Khan wants to steal the vote once again, his ministers are attacking the Election Commission of Pakistan. But I want to tell the ECP that the people of Pakistan are with it. It should remain firm on its just stand. The people will never forgive you if you let the PTI rig the vote,” he told a workers’ convention in Karor Lal Esen, Layyah district, on Saturday night.

He said the way the government was attacking on the ECP was, in fact, the contempt of the constitutional institute of the country.

“If there is contempt of court, there is contempt of the ECP as well. We will not let this happen,” he said.

Bilawal said the sacking of 20,000 employees by court was like undermining the parliament and his party would raise its voice in the National Assembly and Senate beside going to court for a review.

He said Benazir Bhutto had given jobs to the people but Nawaz Sharif removed them. Yousuf Raza Gilani reinstated them but now the SC had rendered them jobless.

“We will launch a movement and get the sacked employees reinstated. The PPP is going to form the next government and it will reinstate all the sacked employees. It is our promise,” he said.

Addressing welcoming processions on his way to Karor from Multan, the PPP chairman said their political rivals were stunned at the enthusiasm of workers during his public meetings in south Punjab during the last week.

“Wake up Jiyalas as we have to protect Pakistan and force the selected and puppet to escape,” he said during his speech at Chowk Azam.

He urged the participants to go door to door and tell the people that the next prime minister and Punjab chief minister would be Jiyalas.

“I am elated to see your zeal and spirit. It is a matter of great pleasure that the Bhuttos are still alive in the plains of Punjab. The joining of former federal minister Bahadur Khan Sihar will further strengthen the PPP in Layyah,” he said.

He said the next government would be the government of labourers, farmers and the poor.

The PPP chairman was warmly welcomed by party workers when he reached Head Muhammadwala. They showered flowers at his vehicle and shouted slogans of Jiye Bhutto.

From Head Muhammadwala, the PPP chairman reached Adda Pathan Hotel where he was welcomed by a large number of the area people, including women and children.

The PPP chairman was warmly welcomed at Sarwar Shaheed Chowk, Azam Chowk and Fatehpur as well.

Published in Dawn, September 12th, 2021