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Chairman of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, has urged the nation, saying that he should be given an opportunity to serve as the Prime Minister not for four times, but only once, promising that he can transform the destiny of the country and pave the way for a prosperous Pakistan for future generations.

He pointed out that there are three weeks left for the elections, but no other party, including the PML-N, has yet presented its election manifesto to the public. He added, “They are not concerned about the people but about becoming prime minister for the fourth time.”

According to the press release issued by the Media Cell Bilawal House, Chairman PPP, while addressing a Jalsa at Mehar in district Dadu, he said that doubling salaries after becoming prime minister was his first promise. Providing 300 units of solar power to poor families free of cost was the second. He said that if the PPP government is formed in the federation, three million house units will be built for the poor citizens across the country, and the ownership rights of these houses will be given to the women of these families. “This is not new to you, the people of Dadu, because you know I am building such houses for the flood victims of Dadu district. If we get the opportunity, we will increase the Benazir Income Support Program (BISP) and also give them interest-free loans for business to women,” he said, reiterating his commitment to launch the Benazir Kisan Card, Benazir Mazdoor Card, and Benazir Youth Card to provide financial assistance to the workers and youth across the country. “My dream is that no child, no citizen of Pakistan should sleep hungry. To fulfill this dream, I will start the Bhook Mitao Program at the union council level,” he vowed.

Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari once again reminded the people that in the current elections, the competition is only between the Arrow and the Lion. He added that the said Lion sucks the blood of the people and hides in the house instead of hunting itself. He said that this Lion demands someone else to hunt for it, take action against its opponents, and also imprison its opponent. When there is a hunt, when the opposition is managed, then this Lion comes out of the house. “Today, for the first time, that Lion has been seen somewhere. But I’m going back to Punjab tomorrow to hunt the Lion,” he said.

Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that he is going to Punjab tomorrow, and he will tell the people of South Punjab that the PPP is “ready to hunt the Lion.” “Jiyalas know better how to hunt the Lion.” He said that we would not accept that anyone should be made prime minister for the fourth time, and asked, “Why should a person who failed three times be accepted as prime minister for the fourth time?”

The PPP chairman said that he has fulfilled whatever the public asked him to do. “I had said that we will end Khan Sahib’s government, so I ended it. They (opponents) used to say this has not happened in history, and he can’t do that. But, I did that in history and elected mayors of Karachi and Hyderabad. I still say that we will win the elections and establish “Awami Raj” and hand over the post of Prime Minister to the Jiyalas,” he added.

Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that we want to do politics with new thinking, as people are fed up with the politics of old politicians, which is the politics of hatred, division, and revenge. He appealed to the people to make the PPP win with a huge majority on February 8. “From Kashmore to Karachi, there should be the rain of arrows, and no one else should be seen. Do not waste votes, but stamp the arrow and give PPP a huge majority,” he urged.

The PPP chairman took oath from the party candidates, Irfan Leghari, Rafique Jamali, Abdul Aziz Junejo, Fayyaz Butt, Pir Mujeeb-ul-Haq, and Saleh Shah Jilani that they would serve the people of their constituencies after winning the elections and would not ignore them.

Former President of Pakistan and President Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians, Asif Ali Zardari has said that if any country looks at Pakistan with ill-intentions, then it will be given a response accordingly.  

President Zardari said that Pakistan is a peace-loving country, but those who wish to target it should think a hundred times before doing so. We have always advocated for peace around the globe and have prioritised it as well. 

President Zardari said that the Pakistan Army is among the best in the world and our forces know how to defend the country. We desire cordial and fraternal relations with our neighbors but only on the basis of equality.

Former President of Pakistan and President Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians, Asif Ali Zardari has said that if any country looks at Pakistan with ill-intentions, then it will be given a response accordingly.  

President Zardari said that Pakistan is a peace-loving country, but those who wish to target it should think a hundred times before doing so. We have always advocated for peace around the globe and have prioritised it as well. 

President Zardari said that the Pakistan Army is among the best in the world and our forces know how to defend the country. We desire cordial and fraternal relations with our neighbors but only on the basis of equality.

Lahore/Islamabad/Karachi, 17 January 2024: Former President of Pakistan and President Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians, Asif Ali Zardari inaugurated the election office of Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari in constituency NA-127 Lahore. 

President Zardari addressing the workers of the party recalled the time when he was incarcerated in Lahore and the women and men workers used to call him at the time of the hearing of the cases against him. He also recalled that he had sowed a mango tree besides the mango tree sowed by the Quaid-e-Awam Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto in jail. The two trees are now bearing fruit. 

Asif Ali Zardari said that his political struggle goes back over 40 years. He said that the workers are always proud of their leaders who go to jail for the rights of the people. He said that the Jiyalas will work hard and make Bilawal Bhutto Zardari a member of the National Assembly from this constituency and then he will become the Prime Minister of the country.

In-charge Central Election Monitoring Cell of Pakistan Peoples Party, Taj Haider in a letter addressed to the Chief Election Commissioner.

Following is the full text of the letter:- 

“Allotment of Party symbol (Arrow) to our candidate on PP 163. 

We have the honor to bring to your kind notice that regretfully in spite of agreement of the learned lawyer of the Commission in the hearing of the above case in Lahore High Court this morning, on allotting the Party symbol (Arrow) to our candidate on PP 163, the extremely biased Returning Officer of the constituency has raised frivolous objections on the issue of Party ticket to our candidate Mr. Fayyaz Bhatti. 

Under Section 66 of the Election Act 2017, the presentation of the Party ticket by a candidate to the Returning Officer is sufficient proof of affiliation of the candidate with that political Party. It is unfortunate that the RO with malafide intent continues to obstruct the allotment of the Party ticket to our candidate. His action and attitude amounts to a clear contempt of the Honorable Lahore High Court.  

In this situation besides requesting that the symbol should be allotted to our candidate without further delay we demand that the biased Returning Officer should be removed from his position.”

Islamabad, 13 January, 2024: In-charge Central Election Monitoring Cell of Pakistan Peoples Party, Taj Haider in a letter addressed to the Chief Election Commissioner.

Following is the full text of the letter:- 

“Sub: Denial of PPPP symbols to PPPP Ticket holders.

We have the honour to bring to your notice the prevailing trend in Punjab of denial of our Party election symbol (Arrow) to our Ticket holders and placing them in the category of independent candidates. Our serious concerns over such denials may kindly be noted.

According to Section 66 of the Election Act 2017, ’a declaration before the Returning Officer about his affiliation with a particular political party, if any, along with a certificate from the political party showing that he is that party’s candidate from that constituency’ is the only and the final requirement for ‘seeking allotment of a prescribed symbol’. There is no ambiguity in this Section of the Election Act 2017 and it should be followed in letter and spirit.   

You would agree Sir, that the whole system of our constitutional democracy is built around the basic structure of political parties. Accepted that citizens have the option of contesting elections as independent candidates but, we have repeatedly experienced that the presence of independents in an elected house does open an unfortunate window for horse trading and exerting pressures on the elected independents. 

Independent Candidates are often elected by taking advantage of ‘parochial, racial, tribal, sectarian and provincial prejudices’ fault lines among our citizens. Under Article 33 of our Constitution it is the duty of the State to discourage such and similar such prejudices. Instead citizens should be encouraged to vote on the performance, policies and manifestos of political parties. Pushing valid candidates who are affiliated to a party and also submit required documents before Returning Officers at the time of seeking a prescribed symbol, outside the fold of that party and into the category of independents runs contrary to the provisions of Article 33 of our Constitution and the necessary and sufficient requirements of Section 66 of the Election Act 2017.   

We request issuance of your general instructions to all ROs and DROs to allot prescribed symbols under Section 66 of the Election Act 2017, to all candidates who have at the time of seeking a prescribed symbol submitted a certificate from their party regarding their affiliation to that Party.” 

Bahawalpur, 13 January 2024: Chairman Pakistan Peoples Party, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari addressing the Party’s public gathering in Bahawalpur, Punjab said that the Jiyalas are running the electoral campaign nationwide. The PPP is contesting the elections not because of any personal interest, but to serve the people. Pakistan is going through a tumultuous time and is facing a historic economic crisis, with unprecedented increases in inflation, unemployment and poverty. When Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto laid the foundation of the Party, the country was going through a financial crisis then too, the Quaid-e-Awam gave us a manifesto that helped strengthen the downtrodden masses of the country, including the poor farmers and labourers. Once again, we require a pro-people, pro-labourer, pro-farmer and pro-poor government. The rest of the political parties represent the elite while the PPP represents the common people. If the people stamp the symbol of the arrow, then the government forming resultantly will be theirs. The Pakistan Peoples Party, following the footsteps of Shaheed Quaid-e-Awam is contesting the elections based on a 10-point economic contract. 

Chairman Bilawal said that his first aim would be to not only increase the wages, but double them within five years. The workers of Bahawalpur should apprise the people of the PPP’s aims, which include providing free and quality education to the people, establishing an IT university in the city and nationwide. It is the PPP’s promise to Bahawalpur that it will establish free-of-cost healthcare institutions such as the NICVD. We will begin with South Punjab, and every district of the region will get a free hospital, followed by the rest of Punjab. When Quaid-e-Awam Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was in office, he gave ownership to the people, and launched a ‘5 Marla scheme’, and Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto introduced a ‘7 Marla scheme’. The people should support the PPP so that it can fulfil its aims of building three million homes for the people nationwide, as it is already doing in Sindh, while giving ownership to the women of the households. Chairman Bilawal directed the Party’s workers to go to every area with temporary housing, and let the people know that it is our aim to regularise the construction and give them ownership so they too can live in the serenity of their own home. 

Chairman Bilawal instructed the Party workers to go to every doorstep and tell the people that the PPP plans to expand the revolutionary, internationally-acclaimed Benazir Income Support Programme to incorporate employment, education and health facilities for the poor women of the country. The PPP also aims to give interest-free loan to the poor women of the country so they can make their contribution to society while attaining independence. “Bilawal Bhutto’s government will introduce the ‘Benazir Mazdoor Card’ and the ‘Benazir Kissan Card’ to provide the labourers and farmers of the country with financial assistance directly”, Chairman Bilawal resolved. Subsidies will be provided directly to the growers and farmers so that their crops are insured and they do not have to bear the burden of any unforeseen catastrophe.

Addressing the youth, Chairman Bilawal said that he plans on introducing the ‘Youth Card’ to provide the youngsters with financial assistance as well as equip them with the necessary skills to see to it that they flourish professionally. The PPP will also establish ‘Youth Centers’ in every district. The PPP also aims to initiate the ‘Bhook Mitao Programme’ to combat with hunger on the level of union councils, and provide free lunch in schools, as well as look after the new mothers and infants for the first thousand days so that no one goes to sleep on an empty stomach in the country. 

Chairman PPP said that he is contesting the elections on these 10 points, and the PPP will be victorious and a government of the people will be formed. The PPP is not competing with any other party, it is the party of martyrs. The PPP’s only competition is the inflation, poverty and unemployment. When given the opportunity, the PPP will show how a government can cater to the poor, farmers and labourers. The PPP is the only party that has the skills to do this, and its history is a testimony of this. It is the season of elections and the PPP is focusing especially on Punjab, and the Party will be triumphant in all the provinces. The PPP will not only form the federal government, but also the provincial governments. A Jiyala will be the CM of Punjab, Chairman Bilawal said.  

Chairman PPP said that the Jiyalas of the Party would have to struggle for their victory and work hard as if it is a matter of life and death. We have all the answers to the problems that the country is faced with. None of the other parties are interested in the crises faced by their people, they only care for power and have resorted to settling scores against each other out of personal vendettas. The PPP wishes to bury the traditional politics of hate and division, and will introduce a new form of politics, the aim of which would be to serve the poor and downtrodden. One political party is contesting the elections to avoid prison, while the other is doing so for its leader to be released from jail. The PPP is the only party that is contesting solely for the people. 

Chairman PPP said that when someone is out to hunt a lion, a bat is rendered redundant, and only the arrow works. This is the season of hunting, and the people have to prove that ‘Aaj Bhi Bhutto Zinda Hai’, by stamping the symbol of the arrow on February 8. Chairman Bilawal said that Ali Hasan Gilani and Hafiz Hussain are the Party’s representative from Bahawalpur, and they are to be made victorious. Malik Shahrukh is the Party’s candidate from the provincial and National Assemblies, and he has to win so that the people can be served by the Party. Abdul Mujeeb Chanar, Naseem Shah, Amin Shah, Rifatur Rehman, Dost Muhammad Khosa, Tatheer ul Hassan and Mr. Gardezi are the Party’s candidates and will be triumphant with the support of the people. 

Chairman Bilawal welcomed Zafar Warraich to the Party and announced that he will be contesting on its behalf in Rahimyar Khan.

Nawabshah, January 13: Bibi Aseefa Bhutto Zardari addressed the meeting of the party workers of District Shaheed Benazirabad held at Zardari House regarding the election campaign of President Asif Ali Zardari and Dr. Azra Fazal Pechuho here on Saturday. Former President Asif Ali Zardari is contesting from NA-207, and Dr. Azra Fazal Pechuho is contesting from PS-36.

Former Provincial Minister of Health and Population, Dr. Azra Fazal Pechuho, was also present on this occasion.

Chairman Pakistan Peoples Party, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari addressing a Party gathering in NA-127, Lahore said that the purpose of today’s event is to introduce the Party’s organization and workers in Lahore, Punjab to let the people know that we are ready for the contest. 

Chairman Bilawal said that he had heard that this region is dominated by PML-N but they are nowhere to be seen. No one knows who their candidates are. It was also heard that the PTI has quite an influence in Lahore, but the people should tell us whether that is the case. The PPP is the sole party that is ready to contest the elections in Lahore. The team chosen for this constituency will work day and night to become the voice of the people, and represent them. We will represent them in the Punjab and National Assemblies. Not only will we represent the people of Lahore in Punjab and Pakistan, but all over the world. Chairman Bilawal said that we had been asking Misbah ur Rehman to contest the elections from Lahore since long, and he has finally agreed and will be the candidate from PP-160. Moreover, the PPP has decided that Faisal Mir would be its candidate in PP-161. It is hoped that Mir will uphold his family’s legacy. Manzar Abbas Khokhar who has joined the PPP from the PML-N will represent the Party in PP-162. It is hoped that he will be the next MPA of the people. Chairman Bilawal welcomed Mr. Bhatti, a ticket holder of PTI who left the Party for the PPP. He will be representing the PPP from PP-163. Mr. Gurkhi would be representing the Party in PP-157. This is the PPP’s electoral panel from NA-127, Chairman Bilawal said. 

Chairman Bilawal said that he is confident about implementing the PPP’s message of unity and harmony, and the Party will initiate it from NA-127. We have to bury the conflicts within to work under the flag of the PPP, and strive for the sake of the ‘arrow’ and Quaid-e-Awam Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, to show the world that Lahore was, is and will forever belong to the Bhuttos. We are not those who will scare easy, we have never bowed before tyranny and will continue to work solely for the people of the country. The workers of the Party have to go to every doorstep to convey our message and 10-point socioeconomic contract with the people. Chairman Bilawal promised the nation that if given the opportunity to serve the people as their PM, he vows to double the salaries of the people within five years, provide 300 units of electricity free-of-cost and guarantee free and quality education for the youth. Chairman Bilawal said that he wishes to establish free-of-cost healthcare institutions meeting international standards in Lahore and all over Punjab, as he has done in Sindh. We will also build three million houses for our poor brothers and give the ownership to the women of the households, for which it is imperative that the arrow is stamped on election day, he said. Moreover, the onus is on the workers of the Party to visit areas with temporary housing and tell them that the PPP government will regularise their housing. We will not only expand the Benazir Income Support Programme, but facilitate our farmers and workers through the ‘Benazir Mazdoor Card’ and ‘Benazir Kissan Card’. Chairman Bilawal directed the workers to apprise the youngsters of the PPP’s ‘Youth Card’, the aspiration behind which is to help them prosper by supporting them financially. We also aim to eradicate hunger, for which we will initiate the ‘Bhook Mitao Programme’, Chairman PPP resolved. 

Chairman Bilawal said that he vows to ensure that the plethora of issues faced by the people are addressed, be it poverty, unemployment or inflation. The PPP does not believe in the politics of hate and division, and it wishes to put an end to the traditional form of doing politics. We wish to introduce a new form of politics, that forgoes the personal vendettas and egoism. The elections are to take place on February 8. The PML-N has made a habit of running from the elections, be it the local government elections, bye-elections or general elections. The people now have to show the PML-N that the elections will take place on February 8 and it has nowhere to run, Chairman Bilawal said. The PPP will be victorious and change the destiny of the people. Chairman Bilawal instructed the Party’s Jiyalas to continue their struggle for the Party.

Former President of Pakistan and President Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians, Asif Ali Zardari and Chairman Pakistan Peoples Party, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari have strongly condemned the terror attack on police check post and toll plaza in Kohat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Three policemen and an employee of the toll plaza were martyred in the attack. 

Both the party leaders said that it is vital to implement the National Action Plan for the elimination of terrorism. They said that these terrorists are unpardonable and the blood of the martyrs will not go in vain. 

President Zardari and Chairman Bilawal expressed sympathy with the families of the martyrs.