Bilawal joins Holi celebrations at Umerkot

UMERKOT: Doused in the colours of Holi, Pakistan People’s Party Chief Bilawal Bhutto Zardari addressed a large gathering of his supporters in the largest Hindu minority district on Thursday.

 “Asalamalikum and Namaste,” he said, after supporters at the Marvi Ground placed a traditional Rajastani headgear on him and splashed Holi colours on his face. Bilawal threw a fistful of colour at his supporters to signify that the celebrations had begun.

“I celebrated Diwali in Mithi, and I am here to celebrate Holi with you,” he said,

He said that his party wanted a Pakistan where every citizen had equal rights. “It cannot be that Pakistan for Muslims is different from Pakistan for the minorities. It cannot be that Pakistan for men is different from Pakistan for women,” he said.

“Minorities in India created a separate homeland for themselves which became Pakistan,” he said, implying that minority groups play a vital role in shaping history of a nation.

Calling his party progressive he said that they had always vouched for women rights. “All the other parties are putting up acts.”

He said that the Punjab government had passed a “weak” law for protecting women against domestic violence. “This law does not really protect women. But I still want to congratulate Punjab for it.”

However, he said, ‘Showbaz Sharif’ at an obvious take at Shehbaz Sharif had to bow down to pressure by religious parties over amendments to the Women's Protection against Domestic Violence bill.

“Weak laws empower the oppressor,” he said.

He added that he will begin a tour of Southern Punjab. “I will visit my Seraiki brothers on March 26.”