Garhi Khuda Bakhsh: Chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, delivered a powerful speech during a public gathering held in Garhi Khuda Bakhsh to mark the 46th death anniversary of the party’s founder, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.
In his address, Bilawal declared that he has taken the fight for the fair distribution of water from Pakistan to the global stage. "I convinced the world that we need to save the River Indus," he said, emphasizing that this is not just Pakistan’s struggle but a global concern.
Paying homage to Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Bilawal said, “We gather every year to pay tribute to the leader of the people. The PPP and its workers have kept his legacy alive for 46 years.” He also commended President Asif Ali Zardari for his efforts to restore justice to Zulfikar Bhutto through a presidential reference.
Bilawal further praised Zardari’s leadership, especially his achievements like the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) and the restoration of the 1973 Constitution through the 18th Amendment. “President Zardari fulfilled the promise made to Garhi Khuda Bakhsh,” Bilawal said.
Highlighting PPP's developmental initiatives, he spoke about the historic People's Housing Scheme. "We are providing 2 million families not just with homes but with land ownership," he claimed, calling it one of the world's largest housing initiatives.
Bilawal emphasized the party's role in promoting unity and opposing divisive politics. “Politics is about service, not hate,” he stated. He reminded the audience that he had successfully represented Pakistan's climate change issues internationally and added the issue into Pakistan’s constitution.
On the issue of water, he accused India of unilaterally stealing water and said he had countered Indian actions diplomatically on global platforms. “We fought for the rights of coastal regions and opposed controversial canal projects,” he added.
Referring to internal political issues, Bilawal warned against the dangers of divisive and hate-driven politics, which he said are harming future generations. He stressed the importance of national unity in fighting terrorism and extremism. “Terrorism is again on the rise from Balochistan to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa due to international conspiracies and domestic failures,” he said.
He called for a united front to combat terrorism, asserting, “We have defeated terrorists before, and we will defeat them again – politically and internationally.”
Bilawal urged opposition parties to cooperate in matters of national security, saying, “Whether your issue is ‘Prisoner 804’ or anything else, fight that politically – but when it comes to Pakistan’s safety, we must stand together.”
On economic issues, Bilawal acknowledged the government's claims of curbing inflation and welcomed any progress that benefits the public. He also demanded employment opportunities for the youth and pointed to the PPP’s efforts in Tharparkar, where women are now working in various fields, from truck driving to engineering.
Addressing the ongoing water crisis and provincial disparities, Bilawal reiterated PPP’s long-standing opposition to unilateral canal projects from the Indus. “Our workers have grown old fighting against unjust canal projects,” he said, recalling that the controversial dam plans were first opposed by Benazir Bhutto and later buried by the party.
He pointed to recent disagreements with the federal government over water projects, confirming that PPP did not accept ministries over principles. “Even the President opposed these unilateral decisions in a joint session,” Bilawal claimed.
Ending his speech with a call for national unity and federal harmony, Bilawal announced a mass campaign starting on April 18 in Hyderabad under the slogan “Pakistan Khappay.” “We will protect the federation, resist every conspiracy, and continue the fight for equitable water distribution,” he vowed.
Bilawal Bhutto concluded with a clear message: “If it’s the people’s demand to reject new canals, then the PPP will stand with the people, not with the government.”
