Lahore: Chairman Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has said that Ziaul Haq and his supporters hatched a conspiracy against PPP and after sending the Quaid-e-Awam to the gallows.

They thought that the Party had been eliminated and no one would raise their voice for the rights of the people. That conspiracy was against the people, democracy, and federation.

Benazir Bhutto thwarted that conspiracy, came to Lahore in 1986 and started the revolt against dictator Zia. She kept fighting for democracy and the rights of the people. She clashed head-on with dictators Zia and Musharraf and also kept challenging the terrorists who wanted to destroy our country. She accepted martyrdom but never retreated from her manifesto, stance and ideology.

Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said this while addressing a huge, charged crowd in Lahore on Sunday.

He said that the PPP continued the struggle of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto and realized her dream of the 18th Amendment which gave all the provinces their rights. We gave the NFC to the provinces and made them the owners of their resources. Had there been no 18th Amendment, NFC or CPEC there would be no metro train in Lahore. He said that the PPP has a generations-long relation with this city. The Imran has no future in the country, he will flee to London. I will be here with the people of Pakistan. How is it possible for me to leave when the poor labourers and farmers are being economically murdered? PPP has served the poor people.

The PPP has follows and implements the slogan of ‘Roti, Kapra aur Makaan’. Quaid-e-Awam gave the 5-marla scheme and Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto gave the 7-marla scheme. We gave the right of ownership to the people living in slums. President Zardari introduced BISP so the poor women could be helped. He increased pensions by a 100% and salaries by 120%. 10000 employees of Pakistan Steel Mills have been rendered jobless due to the PM and has tried to do the same with 16000 federal government employees. Despite being in the opposition, the PPP got these employees reinstated through the courts.

Chairman Bilawal appealed to the people of Lahore and Punjab to once again support the PPP so that it can serve the people and show how a government is run. The Jiyalas of Lahore are brave and loyal. They immolated themselves when Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was sent to the gallows. Lahore had a Jiyala like Jahangir Bader who raised the slogan of ‘Jeay Bhutto’ on every lash administered to him. The PPP is like a family. We want for the real representatives of the people to be elected. The country is in a difficult situation. There is an economic crisis in the country and our foreign policy is confused. The Jiyalas saved Pakistan in the past and will do the same with me and Aseefa. We are struggling against this government to save democracy. We demand the right to rule, the right to ownership, the right to employment and the right to equality. Pakistan should be for every citizen, irrespective of the cast, colour, creed, sect etc.

To achieve these rights, free and transparent elections in the country are integral. For this to happen, it is vital for the PM to go home. The people do not trust him and we will remove him when we reach Islamabad. After removing him, we will carry out electoral reforms so that free and fair elections are held. The PPP is the only party that can form an Awami government. This PM has made a joke of politics and governance. He has made the foreign policy a joke. No ministry is performing and he has given certificates to his ten miserably failing ministers. He has sent some such ministers to Sindh as well but they also fear the power of the Jiyalas. Every promise and slogan of the PM proved to be a lie. This PM has cheated the youth of this country the most. We will provide employment to the youth and will restore the students’ union so that the young people can decide their future themselves and become future leaders.