PPP will sweep in the next general election: Raja Pervaiz Ashraf

GUJAR KHAN, Oct 21 (APP): Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf Sunday said Pakistan Peoples Party would sweep the next general election as it has solid development work to its credit and unflinching support of millions of workers across the country.

Addressing a huge gathering here at the Sawar Mohammad Shaheed stadium, attended by hundreds of thousands of workers of Pakistan Peoples Party, the Prime Minister also announced a series of mega projects of Rs 12 billion for the area, as the workers raised slogans of “Jeay Bhutto”.

The Prime Minister directed removal of the security bullet proof glass as he arrived for address at the dais and said he does not want any barrier between him and the masses. His move was widely welcomed by the people who cheered and raised slogans of Raja Pervez  Ashraf as pride of Gujar Khan.

The Prime Minister said Pakistan Peoples Party has always been victimised in the past and mentioned the landmark decision by the Supreme Court in the Asghar Khan case. Prime Minister Ashraf said it has been admitted during theproceedings of the case that the general election was rigged to defeat the PPP. He said this public gathering should serve as an eye-opener to those who have been conducting a media trial of the Pakistan Peoples Party.

The Prime Minister regretted reports that “Shaheed Benazir Bhutto was treated as a security risk.” He said the Shaheed leader was targeted unsuccessfully in Karachi soon after her arrival, but the enemies managed to finally target her in Rawalpindi.He said the only fault of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was to give a voice to the downtrodden and the common man, who had no standing in the society. “Was it a crime to give a voice to the rejected,” the Prime Minister questioned. “Was this the reason that Benazir Bhutto had to sacrifice her life,” he said and added “Now Bilawal, Bakhtwar and Aseefa also ask the same question that what was the fault of their mother.” He regretted the polling of bogus votes in the past and said over 125,000 bogus votes were cast in every constituency, but this gathering has proved that the PPP remains as popular as ever across the country. He said the time of fraud and bogus polling has come to an end and no fraudster would be allowed to cast fake votes ever again.  “No matter if you hatch conspiracies, but remember that in the forthcoming general election even your deposits will be forfeited as the PPP will get a resounding success,” he said as the workers raised slogans.

The Prime Minister who interspersed his address in Urdu with sentences in the Potohwari language, much to the pleasure of the people, announced a number of development schemes for the Tehsil. He announced an IT University and a computer lab at all schools and colleges all over the Tehsil. Ashraf announced upgradation of Tehsil Gujar Khan to District, and said he has already talked to Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif in this regard. He said the party would sweep the polls easily as it has served the masses and did unprecedented development work. He said the series of work that the party has done cannot be matched by
anyone, neither in the past nor anyone can match in the future.
The Prime Minister also asked those who conduct surveys based on a sample of mere thousands, need to come and visit the venue and see for themselves that the party has deep roots amongst the masses. Prime Minister Ashraf shared a message of President Asif Ali Zardari with the people and said he said he has given all to the region and its people and now it was time for the people to pay
back. He said it was a pledge of the people of Gujar Khan who vividly remember that Shaheed Benazir Bhutto was martyred in Potohwar and said the people of the area would avenge her death by extending full support to the Pakistan Peoples Party.
Raja Ashraf who led slogans of “Zinda hae BB, zinda hae,”vowed that the party would not let the enemies of the party and the nation succeed. Prime Minister Ashraf said he was proud to be here in his home town to attend the gathering of hundreds of thousands and proved that the people of Potohwar, known for their courage, bravery and commitment to the nation, were also sincere with Shaheed Benazir Bhutto. The Prime Minister paid rich tributes to President Asif Ali Zardari and Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari for giving an ordinary worker like him a chance to serve at the country’s highest slot. “It is for first time that a worker belonging to middle class has risen from the ranks to this position and this is something only the Pakistan Peoples Party can do,” he said.
He said the people of Tehsil Gujar Khan and adjoining areas have a strong relationship of devotion to the party and said the presence of thousands of women at the gathering was a proof of the popularity of the party.The Prime Minister said the nation and the party stood along with their security forces like a solid rock and would not let anyone threaten the country. He said Malala was country’s daughter and would not let any extremist or terrorist cause any harm to any daughter of the nation.
Party workers attired in dresses made of party flags, tri-colour caps arrived at the venue, using all modes of transport available. Colourful banners dotted the entire venue that as filled to capacity.
Minister for Kashmir Affairs Manzoor Wattoo said the people of Gujar Khan were lucky to have a dynamic personality like Raja Pervez Ashraf as their leader and said he would bring about a positive change in their lives. He said it was only the Pakistan Peoples Party that under the leadership of President Asif Ali Zardari can take an ordinary worker to the highest level.
Earlier MPAs Brig Hassan, former MPA and Raja Tariq Kayani MPA also addressed the gathering. The event was attended by Minister for Information Qamar Zaman Kaira, Minister for Law Farooq H Naek, Chairperson Benazir Income Support Programme Farzana Raja, Mehreen Anwar Raja, Senator
Farhatullah Babar, Minister for Capital Administration Nazar Mohammad Gondal, Minister for Kashmir Affairs Mian Manzoor Wattoo, Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar.