SUKKUR: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Thursday paid tribute to his mother Benazir Bhutto for not bowing to the military dictator who had toppled a democratically elected government to impose martial law in 1977.

Speaking to the media and party workers at the residence of PPP Sukkur division president and former MPA Haji Anwar Mahar in the Tamachani area in Sukkur, he said on this day in 1977 the government of his maternal grandfather Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was toppled to wind up a popularly elected dispensation.

Also read: Bilawal says he ‘didn’t choose this life’, it chose him

Democratic forces across the country and abroad observe July 5 as ‘black day’ in the history of Pakistan, according to Bhutto-Zardari.

He said his mother and charismatic politician Benazir Bhutto struggled for the restoration of democracy in the country and fought against the dictatorship of General Ziaul Haq and then that of General Pervez Musharraf. She dedicated her entire life for the restoration of democracy and finally laid down her life for the cause, he said.

He expressed his pleasure over completion of the full five-year terms by successive elected governments in the country, and hoped that democracy would continue to flourish in this part of the world.

Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, however, noted that the situation of human rights in the country was not encouraging. “Weaknesses in this respect must be addressed,” he said.

He said a debate should he held on human rights in the elected houses after the general elections. “Democracy means human rights and human rights means democracy,” he remarked.

He also referred to the ugly scenes witnessed during his rally in Lyari a few days ago, and said that his party leaders and activists were facing threats and harassment at the hands of undemocratic forces. He said such things were continuing although it was not the PPP that had lodged the FIR against around 400 ‘miscreants’ suspected to be involved in the Lyari episode.

Regarding the Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) formed against PPP, he said elements within the alliance were talking about saving and protecting Sindh and at the same time siding with those who wanted a division of the province. “This shows they are working for vested interests,” he said.

He said he was pleased to be warmly welcomed by a huge crowd in Pir Jo Goth during his ongoing election campaign.

Alluding to the village (Pir Jo Goth) of GDA chief Pir Pagara, who also heads the Pakistan Muslim League-Functional (PML-F) and his Hur Jamaat, the PPP chairman remarked: “Increasing popularity of PPP within Pir Jo Goth has turned it [into] Teer Jo Goth [stronghold of PPP which has the election symbol of arrow].

In reply to a question, Bhutto-Zardari said that a democratic dispensation alone could efficiently address all internal and external issues. “Such issues will be resolved when an elected government is in place,” he added.

Commenting on ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif ‘s plea for deferring the judgement of accountability court in the Avenfield case for some days, the PPP chairman said that Mr Sharif was an accused in the case and no accused could dictate to a court about when to pronounce its judgement.

He said it was wrong to portray Mr Sharif as a victim [of injustice], nor should the judiciary create a bad impression for itself.

Former chief minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, former leader of the opposition in the National Assembly Syed Khursheed Shah, former MNA Noman Islam Shaikh and other PPP leaders accompanied Bhutto-Zardari during his electioneering in Sukkur, Khairpur, Pir Jo Goth and other cities and towns where he addressed public meetings attended by PPP workers and supporters in large numbers.

Published in Dawn, July 6th, 2018