The tit-for-tat continues as the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) responded to Imran Khan’s fiery convention centre speech during its rally in Karachi.
PPP chief Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, PML-N vice presidents Maryam Nawaz and Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman and Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party chairman Mehmood Achakzai, among other leaders, took part in the event. This marked the first time Maryam Nawaz has addressed a rally in Karachi.
PPP organized the rally in the metropolis as it also commemorated the 13th anniversary of the Karasaz blast.
Maryam Nawaz
Speaking to the charged crowds, Maryam Nawaz responded to the hard-hitting speech of Prime Minister Imran Khan, in the same same coin; taking particular exception to the fact that Imran Khan on Saturday mocked her by calling her a “nani” (grandmother).
“You could tell how one jalsa of ours [Gujranwala rally] made PM Imran Khan shudder in his speech yesterday,” she said. “Fear was visible in your every word and every action. People want to see this fear on your face,” she told the premier. “If you don’t know how to show grace and have no one to teach you, you should’ve learned from Nawaz Sharif,” she added.
She went on to accuse Imran Khan of bringing the army into disrepute; “you use the army to hide your own failures. Who gave you this right?”
“You say we will ban PML-N. Don’t even think about it,” she warned. “This is PML-N, the biggest party of Pakistan, If you ban PML-N, you will have to ban Pakistan’s masses as well. It is not just a party, it is the identity of millions of people.”
Maulana Fazlur Rehman
JUI-F chief in his address demanded new elections. He said PTI chairman alleged that establishment was behind Khawaja Asif’s success.
“Imran Khan says Khwaja Asif called General Bajwa at eight and asked him to make him win the election but he has forgotten that he is himself a selected ruler.”
“I want to talk to the people of Karachi. How will Imran Khan give the people one million houses? He has demolished 50,000 in Karachi already.” He reminded the people that “a revolution is always brought by the poor, not by the rich”
Bilawal Bhutto
Bilawal Bhutto in his speech paid tribute to deceased party workers. He said the federal government has not disbursed PKR 300 billion of NFC award and said his party will resist federal government’s move to take over the two Karachi islands.
The PPP co-chairman opened his speech by paying tribute to all those who lost their lives on the 2007 attack on Benazir Bhutto’s homecoming convoy. “We have a debt of their blood,” he said.
One hundred and eighty people were killed on that day and over 500 others were injured.
He went on to say: “I am not afraid of bombs, I will be with my people. You threaten us with jail and NAB? We’re standing at Karsaz. When bombs didn’t deter us, you think jail will, a puppet government will?”
