PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Monday said the removal of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government is necessary to save the country’s economy and agriculture as the “selected prime minister” is least concerned about the plight of farmers. Were.
He made these remarks during his address at PPP’s Kisan Rally, also known as Tractor Trolley March, at Fateh Chowk in Hyderabad. The rally was organized as part of a wider movement launched What the PPP and the party call the government’s “anti-farmer policies” to support farmers in the face of the ongoing urea shortage.
In this first phase of the campaign, the PPP organized marches to the Larkana Division of Sindh and the Okara town of the Sahiwal Division of Punjab. At the time of announcement of the campaign, the PPP had said that the march would be extended to other parts of the country from January 24 (today).
As part of this campaign, Bilawal had reached the city from Karachi by helicopter to address a rally in Hyderabad today.
In his speech, he said that his party, led by former prime ministers and party leaders Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto, as well as PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari, always worked to strengthen the agricultural economy. Was. There were times when it reached the verge of collapse due to the policies and decisions of the rulers of that time.
Comparing Prime Minister Imran Khan to such rulers, he said, “This incompetent prime minister has broken the backbone of Pakistan’s economy.”
He accused the prime minister of “leaving people in a lurch” when locusts attacked his farm, proceeding to “do nothing to ensure judicious distribution of water”.
And now, he said, “a fertilizer crisis had hit the farmers hard”.
Bilawal said that the agricultural economy in the country is now facing destruction after crisis after crisis.
He said that the PPP believes that the prosperity of Pakistan rests on the progress of the farmers.
The PPP chief recalled that when Asif Ali Zardari took over the reins of the country as president, consumers were seen queuing up to get flour and sugar. The newly formed government under Zardari had doubled the country’s wheat production in a year, so much so that Pakistan started exporting not only wheat, but rice and sugar as well.
But now, he lamented, farmers were making long queues to get urea.
“And this puppet prime minister has reversed the situation and we may have to import wheat, which would amount to economic killing of farmers,” Bilawal warned that if such a situation arises, “the PPP will not tolerate it.” will do.”
The PPP chief further said that farmers may face problems in future due to not getting adequate price for their produce.
He said his party has been raising the issue in parliament, warning that policies that lead to these conditions will eventually result in “economic killing of farmers”.
But this government did not care at all about it, he expressed regret.
He then recalled the efforts of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Benazir for the betterment of the farmers.
He said, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto had challenged the economic system of Pakistan and introduced land reforms, reduced the size of large holdings and distributed land among the farmers. Similarly, he said, as prime minister, when Benazir learned that farmers were not getting enough price for potato produce, he issued instructions to the government to buy the produce and throw it into the sea for fish.
“He could not bear the economic pain of the farmers,” he remarked.
But the PTI government stood firm with the plight of farmers, he said, be it the problem of indiscriminate water distribution, the urea crisis or locust attacks.
“So, we have decided that enough is enough. There is only one solution to this situation. If we have to save farmers and agriculture economy, we have to leave Imran Khan”, he said.
Bilawal said that the PPP has already announced That it would launch a long march on Islamabad on 27 February, saying that “when the masses rise, no one will be able to stop them from entering the capital.”
He had joined Benazir in a long march against the “then puppet government”, expressing a similar resolve to “remove this government democratically, legally and constitutionally”.
Now, he said, “the people will rule” this country.
“And only a government, which really belongs to the people, will be able to solve the problems of this country. Otherwise, there will be only destruction in the name of change,” he said.
Criticism against MQM
Turning to the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), he alleged that “PTI’s facilitators are trying to disturb peace in Sindh.”
“The people of this city are aware of their past,” he said, pointing to the MQM. “And until […] organizations will keep fighting people [on the basis of ethnic differences]We will not be able to get our rights,” he said.
The PPP chief resolved to raise voice for all the people living in Sindh. He pledged not to let anyone do injustice against him, no matter what language they speak, and urged people to “thwart such conspiracies through their solidarity”.
Speaking about the controversial new local government (LG) system being introduced by the PPP in the province, he commented: “Those who are calling the new LG system a black law, their faces will soon turn black. He is anticipating his defeat in the LG elections. More arrows will be defeated in Karachi and Hyderabad [arrow, which is the PPP’s electoral symbol] Will win His contempt will be exposed.”
He said that under the new system, the mayor would first be able to collect property tax and then spend it on the upgradation and maintenance of civic infrastructure.
“So, you should not fall prey to their conspiracies,” he said, referring to the opposition’s criticism of the system, especially the MQM.
He asked how can those opposing the new system be honest when they have been loyal to their own leader.
“They were applauding [their leader’s] Anti-Pakistan speech and confessed [their involvement] In terrorist activities,” Bilawal said, “they are the enemies of the people of this city.”
“I want a Gialla mayor here,” he said, promising to work with the mayor day and night to serve the people.
Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah and other leaders of PPP, Meeran Mohammad Shah of Sindh Chamber of Agriculture and others also spoke on the occasion.