After BISP: Quaid’s pic may be removed from currency notes, says PPP

Ag AgenciesSHIKARPUR/ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan People's Party (PPP) has decided to resist the PTI government’s plan to rename the Benazir Income Support Programme inside and outside the parliament.According to the PPP, the mode of resistance will be discussed in the upcoming joint meeting of PPP's Central Executive Committee and Federal Council , scheduled to be held on April 3 at Naudero in Larkana. The PPP has also decided to make contact with other opposition parties to oppose the government’s move in parliament. The name of Benazir Income Support Programme could be changed through executive order of the prime minister as it was protected through enactment of law in 2010.PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Sunday said the government’s move to change the name of Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) was a "conspiracy" to end the social safety net programme.Speaking to the media here, the PPP chairman said women were protesting in Thatta and Sehwan after not being paid money under the BISP. "They are anti-people and anti-poor individuals," he said, without naming PTI.Bilawal said it was a "long-term conspiracy" under which the name of the programme would first be changed, followed by decreasing allocation for it, and eventually the programme would be ended.He said, "They understand that money is being wasted through the BISP, but I consider it the best programme in the country." The PPP chairman maintained the BISP was not just empowering women, but it was strengthening the economy as well.Criticising the government, he said the Indus River System Authority (Irsa) was doing injustice to Sindh, adding that they were facing difficulties due to the attitude of the federal government. Bilawal further vowed to prevent theft of water and conserve it.In Pano Aqil, Khursheed Shah said that the government should be ashamed of taking this step. The programme has been named after former PM Benazir Bhutto. BISP is the largest aid programme in Pakistan which seeks to reducepoverty in the country. “You [Prime Minister Imran Khan] want to remove her name from the programme’s cards. You can do that. But, how will you remove it from the people’s hearts and minds? Benazir doesn’t need cards,” he said.Benazir Bhutto had pledged to end poverty in Pakistan, he said. Khursheed Shah said time will come when pictures of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah will also be removed from currency notes in the name of Naya Pakistam.In Islamabad, Senator Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar, the spokesman to Chairman PPP Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, said that Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto always condemned and resisted terrorism which is why Benazir Income Support Program is being targeted by the current pro-terror government.He said that this government cannot tolerate the name of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto and the poor of this country which is why deliberating to end BISP. Senator Khokhar said that the 18th amendment is also troubling this puppet government and selected PM came out in the open against 18th amendment."This also exposes the purpose for which Imran Khan was brought to power through a fraudulent election," he said. Senator Khokhar said that federation was not hurt by 18th amendment for 10 years so how can it harm the federation now. Imran Khan is trying to conceal his failure and incompetency by attacking 18thamendment.Senator Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar said that the puppet government is the reason for the economic crisis that the country is facing. "Imran Khan should answer whether the 450 billion worth of short fall in tax collection was also due to the 18th amendment. Is the ailing stock market a fault of 18th amendment or Imran Khan," he asked.Senator Khokhar said that the increase in the cost of dollar, petrol, power and gas is all due to Imran Khan and his anti-people policies. He said that Imran Khan is following the footsteps of former dictators who have tried to snatch the provincial autonomy from the people.

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