Taking a jibe at the former premier, Bilawal said: “Mian sahib you have come [to power] three times via selection       Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari speaks at a worker's convention in Timergara on December 9, 2023. — Facebook/Pakistan Peoples Party - PPP

TIMERGARA: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Saturday said the former prime minister from Raiwind wanted to be “selected” for the fourth time but, considering his three stints as premier, he would not be able to work for development of the country.

Speaking at a workers convention in Timergara, Bilawal said that Nawaz Sharif would start confrontation with selectors after coming to power and ultimately the nation would suffer. He suggested the PMLN chief should let youth serve the nation.

Taking a jibe at the former premier, Bilawal said: “Mian sahib you have come [to power] three times via selection. At least be elected for [your] fourth tenure [as prime minister].”

Calling on Nawaz to indulge in politics that respects the sanctity of vote and does not insult it, the former foreign minister underscored that he along with the people of Pakistan will not accept PMLN supremo as the country’s premier if he comes to power via selection.

The PPP leader also censured Nawaz’s bid to become the prime minister for the fourth time, saying what difference would it make if a person who has failed three times comes to power one more time.

Bilawal said the PMLN supremo had been involved in “revenge politics” when he was selected via the Islami Jamhoori Ittehad (IJI), the Nawaz-led political alliance formed against the PPP’s Benazir Bhutto-led government in 1988.

“In his second term, Mian sahib wanted to become Amirul Momineen,” Bilawal said.

Taking a dig at Nawaz’s ouster as the country’s premier on all three occasions, Bilawal said that even in his third term, the PMLN supremo locked horns with the “same people” who did him favours.

“Mian sahib, after his third ouster, started complaining Mujhay kyun Nikala [why was I ousted] and eventually landed in Avenfield [apartments], seemingly to bring about a revolution.

“He was facilitated to hold a mass public gathering upon his return, but he did the same what he has been doing all these years,” Bilawal said. “Now Mian sahib is asking to be made the prime minister with two-thirds majority,” he added.

Taking a jibe at Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) former chairman Imran Khan and Nawaz simultaneously, Bilawal underscored that the country could neither afford a “player” nor a fourth timer amid prevailing economic turmoil.

Stressing the need for new politics, Bilawal warned that Nawaz would once again indulge in his old ways if he came to power the fourth time.

Continuing his tirade against Imran, the former foreign minister said that politics of revenge received significant emphasis during the Zaman Park prime minister’s tenure. “[We] had only one [principled] difference with the PTI founder that he came [to power] via selection. […] and relied on umpire’s finger for his politics.”

Expressing reservations about the role of caretaker governments, the PPP chairman said the PMLN workers were holding portfolios as ministers, which was a question mark on the performance of Election Commission of Pakistan and its credibility to hold free and fair elections.

“It is the PPP that can steer the country out of economic quagmire and can provide roti, kapra aur makaan as it considers only poverty and price-hike as its opponents,” Bilawal added.

The PPP chairman expressed his resolve to economically empower labourers and the poor segment of society.

“We have been fighting this war for three generations, learning to serve the downtrodden segments of society. We have no grudge against anyone, including Imran Khan,” Bilawal added.

The PPP leader said his party’s government would include Chakdarra to Chitral route in China-Pakistan Economic Corridor project, which would be extended to Tajikistan to usher in an economic revolution in the region by providing employment opportunities to the people.

“Former president and PPP Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari initiated the CPEC project with aim to create employment opportunities for residents of underdeveloped areas in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,” he added.

He urged the participants of the convention to convey his message to the women of Dir to trust him and he would work for their well-being as a son did for his mother.

“If we can provide free-of-charge treatment to the people of Sindh, we can also provide it to the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,” the PPP chairman said.

Traditional shawl and cap were presented to Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.

Earlier, PPP provincial president Muhammad Ali Shah Bacha, central information secretary Faisal Kareem Kundi and PPP Lower Dir president Nawabzada Mehmood Zeb Khan addressed the gathering.