KARACHI: Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) has no political differences with Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), adding that we are part of the coalition government. He said that basic principle was laid down by Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto in Charter of Democracy (CoD), adding that we will move forward our politics according to CoD. Bilawal Bhutto said that we could have political differences but there will be no personal differences, adding that he had very good working relationship with Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, Mian Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz Sharif whether we are in opposition or government.
While talking to media persons after attending the oath taking ceremony of Mayor and Deputy Major Karachi Barrister Murtaza Wahab Siddiqui and Salman Abdullah Baloch, Bilawal Bhutto said that it is our right to have different point of view on policy matters and we will continue raising these matters at appropriate forums even we will take up them in the masses. Bilawal Bhutto said that he is seeing no severe political difference between PPP and PML-N in future also, adding that the differences could be on policy.
Bilawal Bhutto said that it is stance of the PPP that the federal government should contribute its share for flood reconstruction, adding that it is our old stance. Bilawal Bhutto said that PPP committee had held meeting with PML-N committee at the weekend and tonight the second meeting will be held and we are hopeful that our complaints regarding the floods will be addressed, adding that the component of floods should not have been the last thing to be included in the budget, adding that it should have been the thrust of whole budget. Bilawal Bhutto said that it is hoed that after the meetings between PPP and PML-N the funds for the flood affectees will be part of the budget.
Bilawal Bhutto talked about the struggles faced by the party and responded to the allegations of the mayor elections being rigged.
"The PPP has been fighting against politics of hatred and extremism in this city for years and the leaders of PPP have sacrificed their lives for the country and restoration of democracy," said Bilawal.
The party chairman said that they will respond to the rigging allegations with their performance, adding that "we do not snatch elections, they are snatched from us."
Bilawal assured the people of Karachi that his party has solved the problems in past and will continue to do so. "Karachi is the only city which can save the country and free it from the issues. I will take a personal interest in the issues of Karachi," he added.
"The politics of division and hatred must be rejected. We will solve the problems of the city by uniting."
"There are many problems in Karachi which are related to the federal and provincial government. However, the provincial government will cooperate with the mayor of Karachi," he said.
Bilawal further assured the people that tax money collected by the local government will be spent on them, adding that the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) will work together with the private sector in the city.
He said that the issue of water in Karachi will be solved collectively, adding that Murtaza Wahab's performance will be better than all previous mayors.
Chief Minister Sindh Syed Murad Ali Shah, former chief minister Sindh Syed Qaim Ali Shah and other PPP leaders were also present on the occasion.