• PPP chief urges political leaders to shed their ego
• Says he has asked Sindh CM to prioritise issues of Karachi
• Recalls Benazir’s close association with the city
• Large number of PPP workers, supporters turn up at Chakiwara rally

KARACHI: Criticising political leaders both in the government and in the opposition and “politics of hatred in Islamabad,” Pakistan Peoples Party chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Friday called for dialogue among all democratic forces to strength the parliament, saying it was only way forward to take the country out of the crisis.

He also urged the political leadership to shed their “ego” and “personal issues” for the sake of the country and warned that such attitude could lead to irreparable loss.

“The politics of hatred in Islamabad is at its peak,” he said while speaking to a rally in Lyari’s Chakiwara area, which was organised to mark the 71st birth celebrations of Benazir Bhutto.

“There’re many leaders who’re not even ready to talk. They don’t want to even shake hands with each other. I urge them all once again that all political parties, whether they’re in the government or opposition, initiate dialogue with all political forces. Don’t let your ego or personal issues dominate this process. If you want to bring Pakistan out of economic crisis and strengthen the parliament, you would have to talk to democratic forces.”

He referred to her mother’s connection with Karachi, calling the people of Lyari her “Ladlas” [darlings] and claimed that development of the city had always been their prime objective since he had entered the politics.

“Since entering politics, I have been struggling for the development of this city,” he stated.

“I have asked Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah to prioritise Karachi’s issues. The problems which emerged during the caretaker government are now being resolved, thanks to the relentless efforts of the Chief Minister and his team.”

He admitted that the current water supply was insufficient for Karachi due to constantly growing population of the city.

He announced that the Sindh government was ready to initiate a project to supply water from the Hub Dam to address this issue, with allocation of funds in the budget 2024-25.

Regarding power outages, he noted that it is a nationwide problem, with loadshedding lasting 16 to 18 hours across Sindh, Balochistan, southern Punjab, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

He expressed concern that people were losing faith in federal power agencies.

He said that the Sindh government would launch a new project in the upcoming financial year to provide free solar systems to poor families and subsidised solar panels to the middle class.

He said unemployment was the country’s biggest issue, emphasising that the Sindh government was developing projects to create job opportunities for the youth.

He reiterated the vow to fulfil his mother’s vision and emphasised that those who “believed” that the PPP would collapse after Benazir Bhutto’s assassination had proved wrong.

Mr Bhutto-Zardari said that Benazir Bhutto shared both challenging and joyful times with the people of Karachi recalling her wedding ceremony which was held at Kakri Ground and his birth at Lady Dufferin Hospital.

He said that three generations of his family had fought for the rights of Karachi’s people and he would continue to raise his voice for the people of the business capital.

Published in Dawn, June 22nd, 2024