Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has vowed to complete his late mother Benazir Bhutto’s incomplete mission in front of a massive public gathering held to mark the latter’s 12th death anniversary at Liaqauat Bagh, where she was assassinated on December 27, 2007.
“This is not the democracy we sacrificed so dearly for and this is not the economy Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto took revolutionary initiatives to strengthen,” he told a charged crowd in the garrison town of Rawalpindi on Friday.The PPP chairman said he would not leave any stone unturned to bring back true democracy in the country.Lashing out at the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government, he said, “These political orphans are ruling the country, who couldn’t keep Nawaz Sharif and Asif Zardari in jail for long. “This puppet government of political orphans won’t continue for very long,” he added.
“Next year will be the year of elections,” he reiterated.
The country’s economic decisions, Bilawal claimed, are being taken by International Monetary Fund (IMF) instead of its people.
Speaking at length about achievements of his later mother, Bilawal said Benazir Bhutto defeated two military dictators in her political career.
Benazir Bhutto struggled for 30 years to protect people’s rights, said the PPP chairman, adding that his mother freed the media. Bilawal said she had returned to Pakistan despite serious threats to her life, adding that his father Asif Zardari had been kept in jail for 12 years but no allegation could be proven against him.
“This land is again calling that it is under threat once again… today, parliament is locked and 18th amendment is under attack with provinces being deprived of their rights.”
Bilawal said extremism is prevalent in the country despite a defeat to terrorism in the recent past. He said the masses are being economically murdered and this government had become a menace for the masses.
Zardari
In a video message, PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari said” “One day, we will form a truly people’s government in the country. “We will resolve people’s issues,” he added.
The current rulers are totally oblivious of problems being faced by poor and labourers of the country. “They don’t know what inflation is,” he remarked.In PPP’s previous tenure, Zardari said, the party truly served the masses, adding that if given another opportunity, they will again rightfully serve the public.“Today, Bilawal is standing at the same place where Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and his daughter were martyred.”Earlier in the day, Bilawal was warmly welcomed by the party workers on his arrival in Rawalpindi.He was brought to Liaquat Bagh under box security in his bulletproof vehicle. The same route and security pattern would be followed on his return and he would not come out of his car at any point, Rawalpindi PPP President Babar Jadoon said.
Some 20,000 chairs had been set up for people who arrived to attend the mass gathering from across the country.
Two stages were set up at the venue, one for the central and provincial leadership and for the divisional and district level leaders.
Walls around the ground adorned with party flags and images of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Benazir Bhutto, Bilawal, and Asif Zardari besides the sponsoring leaders. The sound systems have been blaring party songs to create a festive mood and keep volunteers charged throughout the day.
One of the boundary walls of Liaquat Bagh has been demolished to make a wide course that has been made for the workers expected to come out in large numbers. This wall would be constructed again by the party after the meeting.
Jadoon further said that barbed wires have been placed to restrict the participants from reaching the main stage.
Explaining the security arrangements, Jadoon said that the walk-through gates were installed at entry points of the venue, as well as, CCTV cameras.
Metal detectors were used to search all the entrants. The Peoples Security performed security at Liaquat Bagh while the police were present outside the ground for ensuring the protection of the masses.
The City Traffic Police (CTP) had issued a special traffic plan ahead of PPP rally on Friday. The traffic plan was issued to save motorists from any inconvenience.
As part of the plan, the Liaquat Road, China Market Road, and Murree Road remained closed for any kind of traffic. The traffic from Marrir Chowk to Committee Chowk on Murree Road remained suspended during the public gathering hours.
Meanwhile, different thoroughfares around the city including the Tipu Road, Rashid Minhas Road, and DAV College Road stayed open for the motorists.
According to Rawalpindi police, at least 1,000 policemen were deployed for the security of the jalsa. Moreover, sharpshooters took positions on buildings around Liaquat Bagh to keep watch on miscreants.
Police officials said that the jalsa ground was in a cordon of three layers of security, people were frisked before entering through any of the 12 walkthrough gates.
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2125947/1-bilawal-addresses-liaquat-bagh-rally-mark-bbs-12th-death-anniversary/
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