Chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, has expressed his preference for forming a government with independent candidates in the upcoming elections.
In an interview with Reuters in Larkana, Bilawal highlighted the significant participation of independent politicians in the upcoming polls, possibly the highest number in the country’s history. Notably, many of these independent candidates were formerly associated with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) before the party lost its iconic ‘bat’ symbol. Bilawal has positioned himself as an alternative to the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and PTI, urging supporters of jailed ex-PM Imran Khan to vote for him.
Despite ruling out alliances with the PML-N or PTI, Bilawal aims to form a government with independent candidates.
The 35-year-old leader has focused his campaign on youth appeal and ambitious plans to combat climate change, advocating for a break from old politics and the introduction of new ideas and leadership. He plans to restructure Pakistan’s development model, emphasizing the threat of climate change and proposing concrete measures to provide free electricity and boost social safety programs, despite fiscal constraints.
Bhutto scion aims to focus on Pakistan's youth, break with old politics https://t.co/Pk0mCdWn7J pic.twitter.com/rCN6hIHbHn
— Reuters (@Reuters) January 24, 2024
Bilawal’s vision also includes ensuring that funds exceeding $10 billion, pledged last year, are directed toward fighting climate change, particularly after the super floods in 2022 that displaced over 7 million people.
Bilawal’s youth-centric approach aims to address the concerns of Pakistan’s predominantly young population and offer a fresh perspective in a political landscape dominated by older leaders. The PPP, which has lost ground to the PML-N and PTI in recent years, is seeking to regain prominence in the upcoming elections.