GHOTKI, Asif Ali Zardari, former President of Pakistan and leader of the Pakistan People’s Party Parliamentarians (PPPP), declared that the ousting of Imran Khan from power was an act to safeguard the rights of the Pakistani populace and to promote the country’s development, not a quest for political control. In his discourse, he stressed his allegiance to the nation’s progress and welfare.
According to Pakistan People’s Party, Zardari addressed both party workers and the general public at Gohar Palace in the Khangarh Tehsil of Ghotki District. He elaborated that the confrontation with Imran Khan’s government was not a power grab but a necessary action against a regime that, in his view, failed to deliver progress and development for eight years. He argued that the previous government lacked the ability to perform and to utilize the potential of others effectively.
He praised the developmental strides made in Sindh under the PPP government, especially after the 18th amendment, which granted the province greater autonomy and resources. Zardari pointed out infrastructure achievements, including the construction of additional bridges over the Indus River, which had increased from one to seven.
President Zardari also spoke of the ongoing projects in Sindh, like the lining of canals in Lower Sindh and announced the initiation of similar projects in Upper Sindh, with the Rohri Canal being a particular focus by the year’s end.
On the environmental front, he highlighted the potential economic benefits of filtering industrial waste and sewage, claiming that proper management could generate substantial revenue and even transform such water into fertilizer. Zardari reflected on his decision to decentralize presidential powers to the parliament as a safeguard against dictatorship, arguing that the advent of social media and information technology has made it more difficult for dictatorial regimes to take root.
He welcomed opposition parties to partake in fair electoral competition, underlining the vitality of democracy for yielding the best outcomes for the country. The former President also emphasized his commitment to remain in Pakistan to maintain accountability to his party workers, and he echoed the philosophies of his predecessors, Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, in serving the populace.
Zardari pointed to the PPP’s legacy of public service, invoking his late wife’s memory and her dedication to Pakistan’s future. Addressing international concerns, he mentioned Pakistan’s policy of non-involvement in Middle Eastern conflicts and the economic repercussions of such decisions.
He concluded his remarks by condemning the ongoing violence in Gaza, expressing solidarity with the Palestinian people, and promising that the PPP would extend support to them, drawing parallels with the party’s historical stance.
The event was marked by the presence of several key figures and former legislators, highlighting a recent shift of allegiances within the local political landscape.