Electoral Arena
DERA MURAD JAMALI: PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari addressed a rally in Balochistan’s Dera Murad Jamali on Sunday, emphasizing that the electoral Arena had narrowed to only two significant players – his party, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N). Bilawal urged the nation to choose the ‘arrow,’ the symbol of PPP, in the upcoming general election.
Following the recent loss of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)’s iconic ‘bat’ symbol in the courts, Bilawal remarked, “Only two parties are left now. You have to decide between the PPP and the PML-N.” He urged voters to consider whether they wanted to perpetuate existing politics or embrace “new thinking.”
In his address, Bilawal criticized PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif, questioning the impact of his three terms as prime minister and asserting that the PML-N’s participation in the polls was driven by a desire to avoid legal consequences.
Bilawal pledged that the PPP stands for the poor and vowed to protect the public and the future of Pakistan. Taking a swipe at Nawaz Sharif, he declared his intention to contest in Lahore, the PML-N’s stronghold, asserting his determination to challenge them on their home ground.
Addressing the absence of the ‘bat’ symbol in the upcoming election, Bilawal highlighted the competition between the ‘tiger’ (PML-N) and the ‘arrow’ (PPP) as the symbols that will shape the contest on February 8.
During his speech, Bilawal promised to address the issues of Balochistan, including the completion of the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline, if the province supports the PPP in the polls. He reassured the public that a PPP-led government would prioritize the welfare of the poor, contrasting this with the PML-N, which he claimed served only the affluent.
Bilawal concluded by pledging to double salaries, provide free electricity, establish educational and health institutions, and introduce welfare schemes for farmers and the youth if the PPP forms the government.
Later in the day, Bilawal addressed another rally in Sindh’s Khairpur, where he assured voters that elected leaders would not forget their responsibilities after the elections. He held the caretaker government accountable for halting development works and advocated for the rights of flood affectees in Sindh. As the elections approach, Bilawal urged voters to choose the PPP for a better and more inclusive future.
