Bilawal Says Punjab Benefited Most from 18th Amendment but Is No Longer Ready to Defend It

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has said that Punjab has benefited the most from the 18th Constitutional Amendment, but is now unwilling to defend it.

Addressing an election rally at the historic Shahi Polo Ground in Gilgit, Bilawal said that if the people of Gilgit-Baltistan grant the PPP a strong mandate, a PPP-led government would ensure that residents become rightful owners of their land through the implementation of the land ownership law.

He alleged that PPP’s seats were taken away in the previous elections despite the party securing a clear majority according to Form 45 results. Bilawal urged voters to safeguard their mandate in the upcoming elections and prevent anyone from stealing the public’s vote.

The PPP chairman said that the land ownership law had already been passed by the Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly and promised that it would be fully implemented if the party won a decisive victory in the elections. He warned that failure to secure electoral success could delay the law’s implementation.

Criticizing political opponents, Bilawal said that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had failed to deliver on public welfare and was more focused on securing the release of its imprisoned leader. He also invited other political groups and allies to join PPP’s efforts to protect Gilgit-Baltistan’s interests and secure additional rights for its people.

Without directly naming the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Bilawal said that Punjab had gained the greatest advantage from the 18th Amendment, yet those who benefited most were no longer prepared to defend it. He questioned how such parties could effectively serve the people of Gilgit-Baltistan.

Bilawal also paid tribute to former Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, saying that Pakistan’s security and sovereignty were strengthened by their contributions. He credited Zulfikar Ali Bhutto with laying the foundation of Pakistan’s nuclear program and Benazir Bhutto with advancing the country’s missile technology.