MULTAN: Former slain prime minister Benazir Bhutto and former president Asif Zardari’s younger daughter, Aseefa Bhutto-Zardari marked her nascent rise in politics in the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) rally in Multan, where she excoriated the “selected” government and said “it will have to go”.
In the absence of arrangements at the original venue — Qila Kohna Qasim Bagh stadium — due to a tussle for control of the stadium between the government and the Opposition’s party workers, Multan’s Ghanta Ghar Chowk was turned into the rally venue with a makeshift stage installed.
Having braved arrests, cases and barricades, the PDM hold a huge rally alternate venue at Ghanta Ghar Chowk, which is situated around 1km away from the original Qila Kohna Qasim Bagh Stadium venue, after the authorities dislodged opposition workers from there a night earlier.
“Despite the cruelty and oppression of the selected [government], so many of you have gathered here. This selected [government] will have to go!” she said, as she joined Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl and movement president Maulana Fazlur Rehman and other bigwigs of the 11-party anti-government alliance.
Aseefa kept her speech short and brisk. In it, she vowed to stand by her brother, party chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, who was convalescing due to the coronavirus, “every step of the way”. She said those who think the Opposition will be cowed into submission are mistaken.
Aseefa said that the people had announced their decision and that they wanted PM Imran Khan to “pack up and leave”.
“[Former] president Asif Zardari introduced the 18th Amendment and BISP [Benazir Income Support Programme] and fought for the people’s rights,” Aseefa said.
Speaking about her slain mother, she said Benazir Bhutto had carried on her father’s mission — to establish a welfare state — and faced several setbacks.
She promised PPP workers that she would continue their mission and would not back down. The gathering coinded with the party’s 53rd Foundation Day.
“They think that we are afraid of arrests. If they arrest our brothers, then they should know that every woman of PPP is ready to take up the struggle,” she said.
Lahore power show to be ‘last nail in govt’s coffin’
PDM president Maulana Fazlur Rehman, for his part, announced nationwide protests on Friday and Sunday. He said the movement has “severed Imran Khan’s link with politics”.
He also said that the PDM’s next power show, in Lahore on December 13, “will be the last nail in the government’s coffin”.
The PDM chief said that the Opposition movement will not allow “illegitimate agents to be foisted upon the people”.
Maryam Nawaz, PML- leader spoke prior to Aseefa’s address saying ‘COVID-18 Imran country’s most lethal virus’
She said that when she entered Multan, the entire city was already transformed into a rally venue. Addressing the government, she said that because the rally venue was sealed, the people of Multan have turned the streets and the neighbourhoods of the city into the jalsa venue.
The PML-N vice-president said that when the country faces a threat, then its daughters and mothers come out on the streets to save it.
“Our misfortune is that we have an adversary who is ungracious,” Maryam said, in a veiled reference to the prime minister, whom she also referred to as “COVID-18 Imran” — the country’s “most lethal virus”.
Slamming the government for putting hurdles in PDM’s way, she wondered whether coronavirus only struck PDM’s rallies and not PTI’s and Jamaat-e-Islami’s gatherings.
The PML-N leader said that before eradicating COVID-19, it was imperative to send back “COVID-18”. “If the latter is sent back, then the former will also be gone,” she remarked.
“It is necessary to treat the coronavirus that has infected Pakistan,” she said.
She accused the government of being callous and not informing her timely of her grandmother Begum Shamim Akhtar’s passing. Maryam had been at a rally in Peshawar that day and said there were no mobile signals.
Maryam said that her father, former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, told her to go to the people of Multan as the family’s grief pales in comparison to that of the people.
“We know the grief of losing a job,” she added. “We realise that you are saddened by a cold stove [due to low gas pressures].” She said the rising costs of electricity and gas are bringing sorrow to people’s homes.
Referring to Punjab chief minister Usman Buzdar’s aide on information, Firdous Awan’s remarks on Nawaz Sharif having “parcelled” his mother’s body to Pakistan, she retorted: “My father was not playing county cricket in London.”
Maryam said that Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s family was not able to offer his funeral prayers after he was hanged. “Akbar Bugti was killed and his family members were not allowed to attend his funeral.”
Speaking about Benazir Bhutto’s assassination, she claimed that her killers were “facilitated” and “sent abroad”.
“Could anyone keep [former president Pervez] Musharraf in jail even for a day? Does anyone have the courage to bring Musharraf back to Pakistan?” she asked.
The PML-N Vice President said that “people know that (the promise of the) South Punjab province was a fraud”.
Speaking of other promises, she said: “Imran Khan used to say that he would not make a bus like Punjab’s metro bus. He has now made a BRT in Peshawar that catches fire more than it runs.”
Criticising the way the country is being governed, she said that “incompetent” people were sitting in Pakistan’s driver’s seat and that has led to the economy’s “downfall”.
“Aleema baji made billions of rupees through a sewing machine, but our prime minister is honest,” she said in sarcasm, adding: “For the past six years, he is an absconder in the foreign funding case, but (we are to believe) he is honest.”
Taking another jibe at the prime minister, she said that he claims he does not have any businesses. “Well, its is hardworking people who have businesses.”
“When you spend you whole life on others’ expense, then why would you even have the need for a business?” she asked.
Making a “promise” to the people, Maryam claimed that she would even go to jail if she had to, in order to “get rid” of the prime minister.
“Before PDM announces its next line of action, you should consider leaving office,” she said, adding: “Don’t say that you were not informed after the PDM has made its decision.”
“PDM has entered the final phase of sending this government packing,” she declared.
Among other prominent politicians, PPP’s Yousuf Raza Gilani, who played host to the event, also spoke on the occasion. Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party’s (PkMAP) Mahmood Khan Achakzai was also at the chowk, as was Awami National Party’s (ANP) Mian Iftikhar.
Former prime minister Yousaf Raza Gilani addressed the gathering at Ghanta Ghar Chowk and said that PDM had held massives rallies in Gujranwala, Karachi, Quetta, and Peshawar.
The government tried to stop this rally and despite all the hurdles, it will take place. “I would like to thank the government for providing us with containers,” he said, referring to PM Imran Khan’s promise of providing containers and food to the Opposition if they wish to hold demonstrations.
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