LARKANA, Pakistan: The former President Asif Ali Zardari on Tuesday announced to join the Parliament along with Bilawal Bhutto by contesting the elections while Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman warned the federal government of a long march if four demands were not fulfilled.
While addressing a public gathering in Garhi Khuda Bakhsh as the PPP marked the 9th death anniversary of Benazir Bhutto, the PPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari said that he would contest the election from Nawabshah while his son Bilawal Bhutto Zardari would take part in the election from Larkana.
“I will contest in place of my sister Faryal Talpur and Bilawal will stand from Larkana on Ayaz Soomro’s seat,” Zardari said.
However, Zardari said that they would contest the elections to enter the Parliament once the PPP’s Central Executive Committee (CEC) endorsed the decision.
“We have sacrificed for the sake of democracy and politics, and to save Pakistan. We will not leave this Mughal emperor to rule,” he added.
پارلیمنٹ آپ کی کرسی کھینچنے نہیں سبق سکھانے آرہا ہوں ،آصف زرداری
— Geo News Urdu (@geonews_urdu) December 27, 2016
The former president also said that four demands put forward by the PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto were totally in line with the Constitution of Pakistan.
Zardari’s address also marked his first major appearance after he returned to Pakistan on December 23, ending his self-imposed exile of 18 months in Dubai.
Bilawal warns of long march
In his address, the PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto said that he would make visits around the Country, and also warned the federal government that if PPP’s four demands were not met, the Party would launch a long march.
“Principally we have decided that we have to start preparing for a long march,” Bilawal said as he also addressed the public gathering to mark 9th death anniversary of Benazir Bhutto in Garhi Khuda Bakhsh.
“I will begin making visits around the country to get my four demands met,” the PPP Chairman said.
However, Bilawal also said that the long march would officially be announced by the Party’s CEC.
Bilawal criticized the federal government over its failures and reminded of Benazir Bhutto’s struggle for democracy in the Past.
PPP’s demands being reviewed: PML-N leader
Meanwhile, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Talal Chaudhry said while talking to a private news channel said that the government was reviewing the four demands made by the PPP.
The PML-N leader said that the government was evaluating some of the demands and may fulfill them. He said that criticism on the government should be constructive and for the betterment of all.
Talal Chaudhry said that the PPP would lose its hold on the Sindh province.
“Bilawal Bhutto Zardari failed to bring any change in Sindh,” Talal Chaudhry said.
