LAHORE: Aseefa Bhutto Zardari on Tuesday led the campaign of her brother PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari in NA-127 here in his absence, canvassing for him. She reminded the people of the sacrifices of the Bhutto family and its struggle for their rights and welfare.

PPP chief Asif Ali Zardari also arrived here on Tuesday to bolster the election campaign of his son.

This was the first rally in NA-127 that Aseefa led while her brother was away in Chiniot, addressing a public gathering as part of the party campaign. She is likely to spend more time in Lahore for the party’s campaign. On Wednesday, she will also inaugurate the party’s central office in the constituency.

Aseefa’s presence in Lahore is a part of the PPP’s extensive drive in NA-127 and the party has made the political contest in the constituency a matter of life and death. The PPP is using all its resources in this constituency to make its chief victorious against PML-N’s Attaullah Tarar and PTI-backed Zahir Abbas Khokhar.

Pledges three million houses for the poor; chalks out PPP’s manifesto

In terms of party flags, banners and panaflexes, the contest appears to be between the PPP and PML-N candidates; however, the PTI-backed one is being considered a dark horse.

Addressing the rally, Ms Aseefa said the people of Lahore would seal the victory of the PPP by stamping the symbol of the arrow on Feb 8.

“We will make Bilawal Bhutto the next prime minister of Pakistan. If given the chance, he will build three million houses for the people, following in the footsteps of Quaid-i-Awam, Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto,” she declared and termed the PPP the only political party that had given residences to the poor while the other parties snatched houses from them.

“Upon being elected as the premier, Bilawal Bhutto will double the salaries of the employees within five years. Prosperity will come to the farmers, labourers and the youth. The Benazir Income Support Programme will be expanded so that the women of the country can be empowered and gain financial independence,” the late Benazir’s daughter promised and also chalked out the points of the party’s manifesto.

Aseefa urged the people of Lahore to utilise their right to vote for the development of the country and progress of the masses.

“I am the daughter of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto and we consider the problems of the people like our own problems. At a time when the country was combating catastrophic floods, Bilawal was the only leader who stood by the people,” she said and declared that Pakistan would see a better future with this passion and determination of its people.

Some women present in the rally also had selfies with Ms Aseefa who also sung a party poem charging the emotions of the participants.

Other PPP Lahore leaders Aslam Gill, Samina Khalid Ghurkhi, Faisal Mir, Misbahur Rehman and Zulfikar Ali Bader were also present.

Published in Dawn, January 24th, 2024