Bilawal Bhutto declares war on PTI government as long march begins

KARACHI:-The Pakistan Peoples Party has begun its long march on Islamabad on Sunday. The protest, aimed to oust the PTI government and Prime Minister Imran Khan, is led by PPP Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.

The marchers were at Gharo, a town in Thatta district, at 4:30pm after travelling roughly 70 kilometres from Karachi.

In a brief address at the Quaid-e-Azam’s mausoleum before commencing the journey, the politician said the Awami March is a “call of war against the PTI government and it’s time Imran Khan goes back home”.

Supporters from across Karachi reached Numaish to participate in the march early morning. They are leaving in a procession which will pass through important roads. The PPP has hung several boards and hoisted party flags on poles across the city.

The protesters are expected to reach Islamabad via 34 cities in Sindh and Punjab.

Route of the March

By Sunday evening, the Awami March will reach Badin via Thatta and Sujawal where the first day will end. On Monday, February 28, it will pass through Hyderabad, Halla, Nawabshah and Moro.

March 1: The protesters will reach Khairpur and end the day in Sukkur.

March 2: The march will enter Rahim Yar Khan via Ghotki.

March 3: Hosted by Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Sindh officials, the march will be handed over to Punjab supporters in Rahim Yar Khan. It will then head towards Multan via Bahawalpur and Lodhran. A public gathering will be held there as well.

March 4: Marchers will reach Sahiwal via Khanewal and Chichawatni.

March 5: Participants will enter Lahore on Sunday.

March 6: Bilawal and other PPP leaders will address supporters at Nasir Bagh Lahore on Sunday, at 1 pm. Marchers will then take off and reach Gujranwala where another public gathering will be held.

March 7: The caravan of the Awami March will leave Wazirabad for Lala Musa, where it will pass through Jhelum and Gujar Khan and end its day at Liaquat Bagh in Rawalpindi.

March 8: The public convoy will finally reach Islamabad via various routes.

PPP’s Bilawal is confident about the campaign against the opposition’s renewed campaign against the government. In a media briefing on Saturday he said, “Imran Khan can’t survive the no-confidence motion is the establishment chose to stay neutral”.

“We are very much hopeful that the establishment would remain neutral. And if it happens, Imran Khan is not going to win this no-trust move. The opposition must struggle for a one point agenda — get rid of Imran Khan. And for that purpose we should be on one page and have a joint strategy.”

He advised the prime minister to step down if he wants to avoid the public anger and defeat in the parliament.

The PTI government has been surrounded by criticism from the opposition, primarily for inflation. It has been, therefore, planning a no-confidence motion against the ruling party and has met its allies in the past one month.

Bilawal added the country is battling “deteriorating economy, failure on foreign front and fast declining social and cultural norms”.