KARACHI: Chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has reaffirmed his unwavering commitment to safeguarding the rights of the people, strengthening the federation and ensuring national security as the party marked its 58th Foundation Day on Saturday.

 

Speaking to the nation through the country's largest digital public gathering, the PPP Chairman declared that he would not support any government action that undermines the federation or encroaches upon provincial rights. He emphasized the unity of all regions, stating that Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan are brothers to one another. He added that together, the nation can confront India's Modi government.

 

According to a press release issued by the Media Cell at Bilawal House, the PPP Chairman addressed simultaneous events held in more than 100 cities across Pakistan through a video link. The historic digital gathering was attended by First Lady Aseefa Bhutto Zardari, who joined her brother on stage, while Senator Waqar Mehdi, General Secretary of PPP Sindh chapter, conducted and moderated the proceedings.

 

Expressing satisfaction over the successful execution of the largest digital public meeting in the country's history, Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that his party had created history. He noted that Foundation Day events were being held in every district of the country, attended by the devoted followers of Quaid-e-Awam Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and the comrades of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto. The Chairman said he was addressing everyone from Muzaffarabad in Azad Kashmir to Skardu in Gilgit-Baltistan, from the brave people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to the valleys of Punjab and South Punjab, from his brothers in Balochistan to the Jeyalas of Sindh.

 

The PPP Chairman highlighted that his party's history is intrinsically linked with the nation's past and future. He recalled the historic contributions of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, who gave the nation democracy, the unanimous Constitution of 1973 and a philosophy aimed at economically empowering the underprivileged. Paying tribute to Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, he said that after the judicial murder of Quaid-e-Awam, she confronted two dictators and struggled for 30 years for the restoration of the Constitution, democracy and the protection of people's rights.

 

Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that after the martyrdom of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, the PPP carried her flag forward with honor. He praised President Asif Ali Zardari for upholding her mission by restoring the Constitution through the 18th Amendment and launching revolutionary initiatives such as the Benazir Income Support Programme in line with the philosophy of Roti, Kapra aur Makaan, which has provided financial assistance to millions of impoverished women across the country. He added that during President Zardari's first term, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was given its rightful name, Balochistan was granted its due through the Aghaz-e-Huqooq-e-Balochistan package, and all provinces received their constitutional rights through devolution of powers and a new National Finance Commission Award.

 

While appreciating the role of the Pakistan Armed Forces in the recent Pakistan-India conflict, Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said the armed forces brought honor to the nation by shooting down seven Indian fighter jets. He also expressed satisfaction with the government's foreign policy during that period. However, he warned that enemies are still actively engaged in conspiracies against Pakistan. He said that through acts of terrorism in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, hostile forces are attempting to destabilize the country. He noted that India is eyeing Pakistan's borders with malicious intent while tensions are rising in bilateral relations with Afghanistan.

 

The PPP Chairman emphasized that given the challenges facing the country, including the new wave of terrorism and conspiracies by hostile nations, unity is essential. He said politics must be conducted in a manner that prevents enemies from exploiting internal political differences. He claimed that the PPP is the only political party that has consistently engaged in positive politics while keeping democratic bounds intact.

 

Discussing the recent 27th Constitutional Amendment, Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said his party has always believed in consensus when it comes to constitutional and legislative matters. He explained that the establishment of a Constitutional Court was part of the Charter of Democracy but could not be implemented under the 18th Amendment. Through the 27th Amendment, he said, the Constitutional Court has now been created with equal representation given to all provinces, which represents a major achievement of the PPP.

 

He added that the judges of the Federal Constitutional Court now carry a heavy responsibility to uphold public trust in the judiciary. He addressed political elements attempting to create controversy around this parliamentary action, stating that constitution-making is the prerogative of Parliament and not within the authority of any judge or court to decide which amendment may or may not be made. He stressed that all institutions must work strictly within their constitutional domains.

 

Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari revealed that when the government approached his party for approval of the 27th Constitutional Amendment, the proposal included not only the establishment of a Constitutional Court and amendments to Article 243 but also several other points. These included the restoration of the magistracy system at the district level, taking back from provinces the authority to prepare educational curricula and matters related to population control, and ending constitutional protections that provinces enjoy in the National Finance Commission. He said the PPP safeguarded provincial constitutional protection with respect to the NFC, and had this amendment been approved, Punjab would have suffered the most, followed by Sindh, Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

 

The PPP Chairman warned that during the process of the 27th Constitutional Amendment, the government had proposed ending constitutional protections granted to provinces in the NFC, and there is a strong possibility that it may bring back this proposed amendment again in the future. He reiterated that the PPP will not support any amendment or step that weakens the federation. He said the PPP has addressed many fault lines in the country through political, administrative and economic measures, thereby strengthening the federation. Through the NFC, he said, separatist politics were buried. He warned that those trying to tamper with the NFC or the 18th Amendment are playing with fire, adding that if provinces are strong, the federation will be strong.

 

Addressing the government, he said it is witnessing how the Indian Defence Minister is making aggressive statements about Sindh and how tensions are rising along the Afghan border. He said the PPP is the party that has the courage to make every sacrifice for the defence of the country. He recalled that Quaid-e-Awam Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto had said that the nation was ready to make every sacrifice necessary to make Pakistan a nuclear power.

 

Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari stressed that to counter terrorism, the state must not only establish its writ but also adopt a proactive soft power approach. He said that along with other necessary measures in this war, efforts must also be made to win the hearts and minds of the people.

 

Earlier, a massive public gathering was held at Bilawal Park, Aitchison Society, in Lahore on Thursday, November 30, 2025, to mark the 58th foundation anniversary of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP). The rally was attended by thousands of party workers and leaders, who chanted party slogans, sang anthems, and raised voices in support of democracy.