MALAKAND: Pakistan Peoples Party chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Wednesday disapproved of “celebrations” over the jail sentence of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf founder and former prime minister Imran Khan.

“As a former prime minister [Imran] is not allowed to contest elections, a party is celebrating this development. In 2018, another party had similar celebrations. We are not those who celebrate the plight of political opponents. We are the jiyalas [followers] of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Shaheed Benazir Bhutto, who did not teach us such negative politics,” Mr Bilawal told an election rally in Batkhela here.

The PPP leader said if people voted his party to power, it would do away with the politics of “hate and division.”

He said the PPP never got a level playing field ahead of and during elections.

Insists PPP never got level playing field ahead of elections

“In 2007, Benazir Bhutto was assassinated, while in 2013, we’re not allowed to run an election campaign. Similarly in 2018, we’re not allowed to come out and interact with voters. Now, they say there is a terror threat but despite all that, I have come to my brothers of Malakand,” he said.

Mr Bilawal said the people of Malakand defeated militants after rendering great sacrifices.

He said his party didn’t want politics to be based on personal vendetta because both the country and the economy suffered from it.

The PPP leader said all “conventional” politicians played that politics every five years.

He also claimed that politics of PTI founder Imran Khan was based on hate and division.

“[PML-N leader] Nawaz Sharif played hate politics every time he became the prime minister. If he comes to power for the fourth time, he will repeat such politics and the people will suffer,” he said.

Mr Bilawal said his message to such politicians would be not to play with the future of the nation.

“We thought that Nawaz Sharif would respect the vote, but that didn’t happen. Imran Khan used to call every opponent a thief but he does not repent. Both Nawaz Sharif and Khan should realise that what goes around comes around,” he said.

The PPP leader said the sisters and daughters of Mr Imran’s opponents were arrested during the last PTI government.

He said such arrests went against the religious teachings and political norms, and local traditions.

“How long will the people witness this?”

Mr Bilawal said Mr Nawaz was “dreaming” to become the prime minister for the fourth time but didn’t come to Malakand to solicit votes.

He also criticised JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman for not visiting the region despite heading a large party in the province.

“I have come to you to ask for your votes and support. I am not like them [Nawaz and Fazl] and do not look right and left but to the people because Quaid-i-Awam [Bhutto] taught us that the people are the source of power,” he said.

The PPP leader said he started his election campaign from KP where his political opponents used to say that the weather is cold and terrorism is rampant in this area.

“No one can match the number of rallies and conventions I held in this province because I respect the people who decide who their PM will be,” he said.

Mr Bilawal said if he was elected as the prime minister, he would establish a truth and reconciliation commission because the nation needed reconciliation.

To find your constituency and location of your polling booth, SMS your NIC number (no spaces) to 8300. Once you know your constituency, visit the ECP website here for candidates.

Published in Dawn, February 1st, 2024