Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari addressed a public gathering in Shigar on Monday, ahead of the Gilgit-Baltistan elections. He reiterated his party's longstanding demand for free and fair elections, urging the public to vote for the arrow symbol. "We have always demanded free and fair elections, and this is our demand in the past as well as today," Bilawal said.
PPP's Commitment to Gilgit-Baltistan
Bilawal outlined his party's manifesto, emphasizing the protection of the rights of the people of Gilgit-Baltistan. He noted that despite having only three seats in the past, which he claimed were snatched away, PPP continued to serve the people wholeheartedly. He also highlighted the party's pro-poor policies, citing the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) as a key example.
Criticism of Opponents
The PPP chairman criticized opponents who, he said, want to sabotage BISP because they fear the philosophy of Shaheed Quaid-e-Awam and Shaheed Bibi. He rejected proposals to hand over BISP to the provinces, arguing that such programs are best run at the federal level. "Does Gilgit-Baltistan have the resources to run such a program?" he asked. Bilawal also pointed out that countries from Egypt to Brazil are replicating BISP, and he advised Afghanistan to create a similar program during his tenure as Foreign Minister.
Call for Local Decision-Making
Bilawal stressed that decisions regarding Gilgit-Baltistan should be made by its people, not by Islamabad. "Our opponents want to control everything from Islamabad, whether it is Gwadar or Karachi," he said. He urged that decisions for Shigar should be made by the people of Shigar.
Economic Concerns and Peace Efforts
Bilawal also commented on rising inflation, noting the drastic increase in petrol and diesel prices. He expressed hope that peace efforts would succeed and lead to a decrease in inflation. He praised the Field Marshal's efforts to establish peace, stating that PPP is against war.
