NOWSHERA: Chairman of the opposition Pakistan Peoples Party Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has urged the people of all provinces to get united for the ouster of the ‘selected’ PTI government by democratic ways to ensure a real and positive change in their lives.

Addressing a public meeting in Manki Sharif area here on Friday, the PPP chairman said Prime Minister Imran Khan had failed to fulfil the election promise of providing the people with 10 million jobs and five million houses.

“The people are so fed up with the ruling PTI’s slogan of change that they are unwilling to stand its government any longer,” he said.

Mr Bilawal said instead of creating jobs, the PTI government sacked thousands of employees of public sector departments showing PM Imran Khan’s inability to serve the people.

He said the 16,000 sacked employees and 10,000 Pakistan Steel Mills workers led an extremely miserable life.

Says PPP will resume its public welfare initiatives after coming to power

The PPP leader said the Imran Khan-led party had been ruling Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for the last eight years but it had failed to provide any relief to the people from poverty, inflation and joblessness and instead, increased their socio-economic woes through flawed policies.

He said his party’s governments had provided jobs to the educated youth, launched mega developmental schemes in all provinces and increased salaries of employees and pension of former employees to provide them with a financial support.

“It is time for people to stand up against the selected PTI government to elect their true representatives to bring about a real change in their lives,” he said.

Mr Bilawal said despite its tall claims, the government had done nothing to control corruption, prices and joblessness in the country.

He said the government should fulfil its promise for the strengthening of economy instead of implementing the International Monetary Fund’s agenda and facilitating corrupt billionaires.

The PPP chief claimed that after coming to power, his party would introduce Labour Cards and Youth Cards to offer financial support to the people.

He said the government was not serious about legislation for positive change in the lives of the poor people.

“I warn [PM] Imran Khan that my jiyalas (PPP workers) will defeat him in his stronghold in the next elections,” he said.

Mr Bilawal said the people were not ready to stand the ‘selected’ government any longer and that his party would make a true people’s government.

He praised PPP leaders and former prime ministers Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto for strengthening democracy, ensuring political independence, and fighting military dictatorship in the country.

The PPP leader said after forming the government in the centre, his party would resume the public welfare initiatives of Bhutto and Benazir governments, including Benazir Income Support Programme, to support the poor people, especially women.

He said his party would ‘challenge’ the government’s legitimacyin the foundation day public meeting in Peshawar on Nov 30.

Mr Bilawal asked the PPP office-bearers to step up efforts to re-organise party and please disgruntled activists.

On the occasion, former PTI tehsil nazim of Nowshera Ahad Khattak formally announced the joining of the PPP.

Ahad Khattak is son of former PTI provincial minister Liaquat Khattak and nephew of defence minister Pervez Khattak. Liaquat Khattak, a PTI MPA, was also present there, but he didn’t address the public meeting.

PPP provincial president Najamuddin Khan and Peshawar division president Liaquat Shabab also spoke on the occasion.

Published in Dawn, November 20th, 2021