Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has strongly criticized those making statements against Pakistan, asserting that such individuals prioritise personal gains over national interests.

Addressing a rally in Garhi Khuda Bakhsh on the 17th death anniversary of his mother, slain former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, Bilawal accused "political puppets" of being willing to compromise the nation’s sovereignty, including its missile program and nuclear assets.

Bilawal claimed that PTI Founder Imran Khan is being used as an excuse while the actual target is Pakistan’s missile and nuclear programs. He called for condemnation of foreign elements interfering in Pakistan’s internal matters and demanded accountability from the PTI for its alleged associations with lobbies opposing the country’s strategic assets.

He maintained that some people were ready to strike all kinds of deals putting aside national interest, adding that such people were only interested in entering Islamabad's power corridors.

Tribute to Benazir Bhutto

Paying homage to his mother, Benazir Bhutto, Bilawal said her political struggle lasted 30 years, calling her a true representative of the people of the country. She fought for Pakistan and the people and was assassinated, he added. He noted that her assassins were misguided that they would be able to silence the authentic voices of Pakistan by getting rid of her and pave the way for controlled political puppets.

Unity among political parties

Bilawal emphasised that Pakistan is at a critical juncture, facing both internal challenges and external threats. He urged all political parties to unite to navigate the country through these testing times. According to him, no single party can tackle the complex issues Pakistan faces today.

He further said that no single political party had the mandate or power to tackle all the problems of the country at once. "The PPP is the only political party in the country that is neither selected nor has come from Form 47. We are only accountable to the people of the country and the PPP workers," he asserted.

Criticism of govt policies

The PPP chairman expressed strong objection to the government's canal policy and accused it of violating agreements and taking unilateral actions detrimental to national interests. He underscored the PPP’s commitment to protecting the rights of the people and addressing Pakistan’s challenges. "The government does not have the mandate to make unilateral decisions, it only has the authority to make collective decisions," he stressed.

He recalled that at the time of forming the incumbent government, the party had signed an agreement with the ruling party that after securing his party's votes, the rulers should not become indifferent towards it. Bilawal further stated that it had been decided that the Federal Public Sector Development Program (PSDP) would be prepared according to the development projects of the four provinces with consensus to ensure attention was paid to the backward areas that faced neglect under the PML-N government.

He said his party had only asked for the rights of their people, but regretted that the agreement had not been implemented. "Despite this, I have repeatedly forced my assembly members to ensure quorum in the assembly, and told them to vote blindly on the government's every bill. But when those representatives go to their areas, they have nothing to offer to the people," he lamented.

The PPP chairman said that today, if the country were to move forward on the path of development and confront international conspiracies, all the decisions would have to be taken unanimously.

Opposition to bargaining on nuclear assets

Bilawal said that in order to counter the international conspiracy being hatched against the country, politics will have to be put aside and Pakistan and its defence prioritised. He described such plans as part of a broader plan to strip Muslim nations of strategic power.

Talking about the US restrictions on Pakistan's missile technology, he reaffirmed that the PPP, as the custodian of Pakistan’s nuclear legacy, would not allow any compromises on the country’s missile or nuclear assets. He further said various countries were making statements about Pakistan's internal politics, but all this was an excuse and no one was concerned about Pakistan's democracy.

"Imran Khan is just an excuse, the real target is Pakistan's nuclear program and missile technology," he remarked, urging Imran Khan to clarify his stance on foreign support for the PTI, questioning the motives of those advocating for him while opposing Pakistan’s strategic independence.

Bilawal also accused certain lobbies of seeking a pliable government in Pakistan, one willing to bargain national assets for power. He further said, "Aren't these the same people who used to raise their voices the most first for the Israeli government and then for you? The PTI will have to explain and condemn such statements."

In conclusion, Bilawal reaffirmed PPP’s determination to protect Pakistan’s sovereignty, uphold democratic principles, and resist any attempts to undermine the nation’s defense capabilities.