Bilawal Bhutto Set for First Public Rally in Karachi

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Pakistan People’s Party chief Bilawal Bhutto Zardari is set to launch his political career in a big way by holding his first public rally here on Saturday as security arrangements were in place anticipating a massive turnout.

The rally is being held on October 18, the day Bilawal’s mother and slain Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto returned to Pakistan after eight years in exile in 2007 and was attacked in twin blasts at Shahrah-i-Faisal.

Militant groups had attacked Benazir’s rally, killing about 140 people and injuring over 400 others.

Political analysts say that Bilawal has made a calculated decision to hold the rally on October 18 to launch his political career in a big way and present himself as the true successor to the Bhutto’s political dynasty.

Security arrangements have been made for the first public rally of the 26-year-old Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairperson.

The PPP, which is the ruling party in the southern Sindh province, is optimistic about a massive turnout for the rally which will be held at the Bagh-e-Jinnah, a public park adjacent to Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s mausoleum.

Seating arrangements have been made for about 150,000 people.

“It is a huge occasion for the party as this will be Bilawal’s first public rally in Karachi and also the first big rally by the PPP in the city after a long time,” Sindh information minister Sharjeel Memon said.

“Around 20,000 vehicles will come from interior parts of Sindh and party supporters are also coming by trains from other parts of the country for the rally,” Memon added.

Bilawal and the PPP have promised a historic turnout on Saturday.

Security for the rally was already being put in place from today with roads and even by-lanes leading to the Bagh-e-Jinnah being closed with containers.

“There should be around 3000 policemen and paramilitary rangers as part of the security plan for the rally,” a government official said. Bilawal, Bhutto visited the rally site today with other party leaders to review the arrangements.