MIRPURKHAS - PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari yesterday questioned if a Muslim can become a president in India, why a person from minorities can’t become head of the state in Pakistan.

Addressing a public rally at Umerkot, the PPP chairman said the party manifesto was based on equality for all. “PPP does not believe in the division of people on the basis of colour, creed, race and religion. We are supporters of the rights of minorities and the poor,” he said.

Greeting the Hindu community on their Holi festival, Bilawal pointed out only the PPP government in Sindh has passed the Hindu Marriage Act. “It is for the first time in Pakistan’s 68-year-long history that a government has passed this bill and given legal protection to the Hindu community,” he said.
Bilawal revealed his party will pass a bill soon against forced conversion of Hindus so that the community becomes stronger. “We are the only government to announce a public holiday on Holi,” he said. “PPP is transforming the country into the Quaid’s Pakistan, who always supported complete freedom for all the minorities.”

Bilawal urged the other provincial governments to follow PPP’s lead in legislation for empowering minorities. “If a Muslim can become a president in India, why an individual from minorities can’t become head of state in Pakistan,” he questioned.

The PPP chairman said his party always talked about equal rights of all Pakistanis, including minorities. He further said that without minorities Pakistan could not progress, so each and every citizen should come forward and play his/her role for progress of the country.

He said the people of Umerkot had always voted for PPP candidates and it was the region of Marvi and brave Bakhtawar.

The PPP chairman said his party was struggling for the rights of the poor, women and minorities as it had passed different laws for protection of women and children and stoppage of underage marriage of girls.

He appealed to women to support him in his struggle for their rights. “Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah stood by Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah in the Pakistan Movement while Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto was with Zulfikar Ali Bhutto for restoration of democracy and progress of the country; similarly, my sisters, Aseefa and Bakhtawar, are with me for progress of the country and the rights of downtrodden people,” he said.
He said today the people of Umerkot are using coal and wood to prepare meal, urging the federal government to ensure supply of Sui gas to Umerkot town immediately, otherwise he will lead a movement for this facility.

Sindh Minister Syed Ali Mardan Shah, PPP Minority Wing President Lalchand Akrani, Kanwar Saran Singh and Syed Sardar Ali Shah also spoke. On this occasion, Zafar Ali Leghari advocate of Functional League announced to join PPP.

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Senior Minister Nisar Khuhro, Adviser Maula Bux Chandio, provincial ministers, Syed Nasir Shah, Mukesh Chawla and Dost Muhammad Rahimoon, MPA Khair-un-Nisa Mughal, Senator Hari Ram Kishori Lal and others were also present there.
Earlier, PPP MNA Mir Munawar Ali Khan Talpur along with his brother Mir Anwar Ali Khan Talpur, PPP Women Wing President taluka Kot Ghulam Muhammad Azmina Nazeer Chandio and others held a meeting with Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and briefed him about the problems of the masses of district Mirpurkhas, seeking orders for their early solution.