KARACHI: Accusing PTI Chairman Imran Khan of “desperately conspiring to get selected” again like he allegedly did in the 2018 general elections, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Wednesday vowed that this time the nation would thwart the former premier’s attempt by siding with “true democratic forces” of Pakistan.

Foreign Minister Bhutto-Zardari insisted that the challenges for the democratic forces were not over, as a “political evil” was busy hatching different designs to put a dent on the democracy and parliamentary system.

The fresh claims came days after the PPP defeated the PTI on Malir and Multan seats of National Assembly in Sunday by-elections.

“His [Imran Khan] politics is about lie and hatred and we believe in peace and love,” said the PPP chairman in an aggressive and loud address to a charged crowd of party supporters in Malir district.

PPP chairman believes challenges for democratic forces are not over

The PPP chairman along with his sister Aseefa Bhutto-Zardari visited the NA-237 constituency, leading a rally to celebrate the victory of PPP candidate Abdul Hakeem Baloch against former prime minister Imran Khan in the recent by-election.

“He [Imran] was selected yesterday [when he became the PM] and today he’s desperately struggling to get selected one more time. But let me make it very clear that we believe in democracy. And for this very belief, we trust the people of Pakistan. The way you defeated the dictators in the past, you would emerge victorious against this puppet as well,” said Mr Bhutto-Zardari.

The PPP chairman also accused the PTI chief of major corruption, blaming him for misappropriating funds collected under donations for the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre — a charitable organisation founded by the PTI chairman.

“His [Imran Khan’s] kitchen is run through these [hospital] funds. He himself is a corrupt man but levels false accusations against others. We knew from day one that he’s not from the people of Pakistan but in fact he was only selected to rule the country,” Mr Bhutto-Zardari said.

He added, “Now he himself is admitting that during the four-year government, the powers were enjoyed by someone else and he was only a puppet prime minister.”

Vowing to win the next general elections, Mr Bhutto-Zardari asked his party workers to stay firm, focus on relief and rehabilitation efforts in the wake of floods and not to pay heed to propaganda of hatred by the opponents.

He also thanked Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) member parties for their cooperation in defeating the PTI chief in the Malir constituency.

The minister then criticised the PTI chief for holding rallies at a time when half of Pakistan was submerged by floodwater.

However, he said, just as the nation had come together in the aftermath of the 2010 floods and tackled the crisis collectively, the same spirit was required to deal with the latest calamity.

The foreign minister asked jiyalas to focus their efforts for the relief and rehabilitation of the flood victims which he described as the “only challenge the country is facing”.

Published in Dawn, October 20th, 2022