GARHI KHUDA BAKHSH: The PPP leadership on Thursday hinted at launching a movement against the PTI government and said it could put Islamabad under siege, which would end only when Prime Minister Imran Khan and his team were “thrown out of parliament”.

Addressing a large public gathering here on the occasion of the 40th death anniversary of former prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and former president Asif Ali Zardari spoke about their future plans that clearly put their party on collision course with the government.

As Mr Zardari asked the PPP supporters to get ready for his call to march on Islamabad as it was high time “the [PTI government] is thrown out of parliament”, Mr Bhutto-Zardari warned the prime minister that his government would be “kicked out” if he “dared to roll back the 18th Amendment”.

Bilawal warns PM his govt will be sent packing if he tries to undo 18th Amendment

Mr Bhutto-Zardari used harsh language while challenging Imran Khan before the charged crowd.

“Bhutto Shaheed [Zulfikar Ali Bhutto] had once challenged anti-democratic forces and said that he would demolish the One Unit system,” the young leader recalled and then added: “Here I warn you that don’t touch the 18th Amendment and if you don’t desist, I will kick your government out.”

His tone and choice of words turned stronger when he referred to PM Khan’s recent visit to Ghotki where the latter had criticised the 18th Amendment and allegedly remarked that he didn’t need Sindh politically.

Mr Bhutto-Zardari questioned the PM’s thoughts and accused him of visiting the province only to seize its resources.

“You don’t need Sindh? Who are you? [Just a] puppet prime minister and Sindh doesn’t need you,” he said while almost shouting during the speech. “You don’t need Sindh but you need Sindh’s gas. You don’t need Sindh but you need Sindh’s water. You still owe Rs120 billion to this province which can be used for human development and feeding the poor.”

Recalling the history of cases against him and his party leaders, Mr Bhutto-Zardari criticised the National Accountability Bureau and termed it an institution being used for victimisation of political opponents.

The PPP chairman reiterated his demand for removal of three federal cabinet members for their alleged connections with banned outfits and criticised the prime minister for his decision to appoint former Intelligence Bureau chief Ijaz Shah a federal minister.

“When I question government performance and its moves against banned outfits, I am declared a traitor,” he said. “I demanded the removal of three federal ministers for their close connections with banned outfits and their leaders but no one paid heed. Instead they appointed a man as federal minister who is blamed for all terrorist conspiracies — from the murder of Daniel Pearl to Benazir Bhutto’s assassination.”

Earlier, Mr Zardari in his brief address appeared firm about launching an anti-government movement with force when he more than twice hinted at major protest activity in Islamabad. He said this move of the PPP would be in the larger interest of the country which badly needed change.

“My friends, it’s time that we move to Islamabad and throw them out of Islamabad,” Mr Zardari said as the crowd roared. “If he [PM Khan] stays anymore, he would push the country 100 years back.”

Mr Zardari said his party would soon topple the government. “It’s time to send them home. It doesn’t make any difference if I stay among you or go to jail. We can give no more time to them.”

The former president said it had become almost impossible for the poor to even pay their electricity bills and school fee of their children. He said that prices of edible items and household things had gone up multiple times during the past few months.

“Be patient, we will announce [launching of] a campaign soon to send them home,” Mr Zardari vowed. “And our campaign would not be like the container protest [launched by the PTI in 2014] that started in the morning and ended in the evening. We would be there on the streets and on the road till the government is thrown out.”

Published in Dawn, April 5th, 2019