Karachi: Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s speech at the commemoration of the sixth anniversary of Karsaz tragedy did not go down well with the leadership of different political parties, which criticised the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) chairman for his “political immaturity”.
Taking a dig at almost all parties, Bilawal had said that he along with his father would hunt down the lion – the party symbol of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N); save the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa from the tsunami – the election slogan of Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).
Without naming the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), he said that although Pakistan got its independence in 1947, Karachi was still “a colony of London”. He also declared “jihad” against religious extremists.
Responding to Bilawal’s comments, MQM leader Wasay Jalil said the attempts to harm the MQM were not successful in 1988 nor would they be this time around. People thinking of defeating the MQM were living in a fool’s paradise.
“It was a distant dream for those who have been in power for the last 25 years to defeat the kite,” he said. “Now Bilawal Zardari has challenged the political parties, let the time come!”
Jalil even tweeted that since 1988, no one had been able to stand the might of the kite (MQM’s election symbol) then how would the PPP do it.
PTI reacts
PTI Sindh President Nadir Akmal Leghari said the forces who remained twice in power were against his party. “Their two governments proved to be disastrous but PTI is a party where collective wisdom prevails with consolidated opinion instead of indulging into mudslinging.”
He said the PPP and PML-N were disturbed by the landmark decisions taken by the PTI-led government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. “They are afraid of the PTI’s popularity and are underestimating the party,” he said. “Had the elections been held fairly, the PTI would have emerged as the number one party in the country, as it believed in changing the rotten system of the government.”
Both PPP and PML-N were given two chances and now the Nawaz league was in power again for the third time but still its policies had burdened the common man. “The PTI will stick to its policies and will soon make Khyber Pakhtunkhwa a paradise on earth,” he vowed.
Religious leaders retort
Different religious parties also raked the PPP chairman over coals for declaring jihad (holy war) against the “hijackers of faith”, terming him a kid who had never been to Pakistan let alone talk like this on his own.
Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) spokesman Sarfaraz Ahmed mocked Bilawal by comparing him with the late Punjabi film actor Sultan Rahi for his emotionally charged speech. “By becoming a Sultan Rahi, he can never become a politician,” he said.
Ahmed said Bilawal should learn some lesson from his father. “Those who are guiding him are dragging him toward trouble.”
He termed the speech just a cheap publicity stunt to get attention through such controversial statements.
The JI spokesman said Bilawal had never been among the masses in Pakistan and spent his whole life abroad in UK. “Before making such speeches, he should spend some time with the masses first.”
The Majlis-e-Wahdat-e-Muslimeen spokesman said it appeared that cricket was being played in politics. “A large number of PPP leaders are waiting to move ahead, but a young man with ‘sifarish’ got the test cap,” he said. “Amazing!”
