Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Wednesday kicked off the party’s election campaign by revealing a 10-point agenda, with the aim to challenge the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) in Lahore, which is the rival party’s stronghold.
Speaking to the Garhi Khuda Bakhsh rally organised for the 16th death anniversary of former premier Benazir Bhutto, the PPP chairman fired a fresh salvo at Nawaz Sharif-led party questioning whether the Punjab’s capital has no option other than having the same person “installed” for the fourth time.
Continuing his tirade against his political opponents, Bilawal said that there are those who are relying on “others” for the upcoming polls, in the same manner they had done so in the past.
“Our paths are different with that of those we were in government for 16 months,” Bilawal said while referring to the PML-N-led Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) government of which the PPP was a key part.
Reiterating his resolve to contest the elections regardless of the challenges, the PPP chairman said that he would face his political opponents in Lahore.
“I had told my team that I wanted to contest from Lahore. I’ll take the battle to Lahore. Let’s see what happens,” he said.
“Is it Lahore’s destiny that the same person will be installed for the fourth time?” Bilawal said while taking a jibe at the PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif, who is eying a record-fourth term as the country’s prime minister.
The PPP chief assured of giving “a befitting response” to their opponents in Lahore in the polls.
On the issue of the party’s candidacy for the prime ministership, Bilawal said that he would seek the support of PPP and Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians (PPPP) — headed by his father Asif Ali Zardari — for contesting the polls as the party’s candidate for the prime ministership.
Pledging to introduce policies that prioritise people’s welfare, Bilawal announced a 10-point agenda, which his party is to enforce if they are voted into power by the people in the upcoming polls.
Bilawal promised his party would do if they came into power;
Double the salaries within five years;
Free solar energy of 300 units for the poor; every district to have green energy parks;
Education for all — rolling out projects for better education;
Free health for all across Pakistan;
Three million houses for flood affectees and the poor;
Expand BISP’s scope; introducing more welfare schemes;
BSIP-like programme for farmers and ‘Hari Card’;
Enhanced support for labourers through Benazir Mazdoor Card;
‘Youth Card’ for unemployed youth and ‘Youth Markaz’and
‘Bhook Mitao Programme’
