English Transcript of the PPP press conference

Some brilliant work done by Dr. Farrukh Malik on his blog Silence where he has meticulously transcribed the entire PPP press conference held at Naudero, Larkana for us in English. A few sections I choose to quote here, while the entire version can be found on his blog.

Makhdoom Ameen Fahim

After the rituals of Soyem of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, we happened to convene the meeting of Central Executive Committee (CEC) of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP). We set together and in that meeting the will of Mohtarma was read to us by Mr. Bilawal and in that will Mohtarma wrote that if in case I am no more, Asif Ali Zardari will be the Chairman of the party, the CEC endorsed it but Asif Ali Zardari said that he want to give this responsibility to his son, this was also endorsed by the house and he was elected as the chairman of the party according to the will of Mohtarma and we endorsed it happily. Now I will request Bilawal Bhutto Zardari to speak with you himself.

Bilawal Bhutto Zardari

I am thankful to the CEC for posing the trust in me as the chairman of PPP, like all chairmen of PPP, I will stand as symbol of federation, the partys long historic struggle for democracy will continue with renewed vigor and I stand committed to the stability of the federation. My mother always said, “Democracy is the best revenge

Asif Ali Zardari

We are following her ideas and we are going to participate in the forth coming election as dictated by her ideology. Our party candidates will participate and we are thankful to Mr. Nawaz Sharif who in solidarity with us boycotted the election and we are appealing him to take back his decision and do not boycott and join hands with us.

We PPP and her humble follower are thinking that Bilawal will remain our chairperson and I being the co-chairman will assist Bilawal and Mr. Makhdoom Amin Faheem. This was her will and Mohtarma knew that I was not running in election and this will is dated October 16, 2007 and I know the wisdom behind it that someone who can be the symbol of federation should lead and Asif Zardari is such a person but I think at the moment we dont have any match like Bilawal and he fits in this arrangement. Bilawal has willingly, my children have willingly decided today to change their name and from today onwards the name of Bilawal and the name of my children will be Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.

Benazir has told us in her will that how we need to move ahead. We are obliged and tied by her will. She has asked us and told that there will be a democratic Pakistan, the party will work for democracy, the party will work for the poor, it will stay a party of poor, I have given this sacrifice and take my blood to people and ask them that for the sake of my blood vote for PPP and abolish the murderer (Qatil) league (referring to party in power Q-leaque).

Our war is with looters, our war is with the party on the government benches, our war is not with Pakistan Army and we dont want to break Pakistan, we want a strong Pakistan. The loss that this nation has suffered in the wake of Benazirs death, those who have assassinated Benazir want to be Gorbachev, he want to break Pakistan? we will not let it happen because we are with Pakistan and we hope we will get the Benazir dream come true. We will not leave any stone un-turned to carry forward the message and ideology of Benazir. Now we would like to pay tribute to those martyrs who lost their lives in protecting Benazir, they were Punjabis. They were my friends that I happened to meet in jails of punjab where I was imprisoned for 8 years and they sacrificed their lives. They were loyal friends and party supporters.

The entire transcription of the PPP Press Conferecne can be found at Silence