Chairman of Pakistan People’s Party Bilawal Bhutto Zardari felicitated the Chinese Communist Party on the occasion of their 100th anniversary. The chairman in his video speech at the World Political Party Summit spoke of the PPP’s ties to the CCP and also mentioned the importance of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor currently being built. He placed emphasis on poverty eradication as one of the primary tenets for economic growth, as seen in China.

“China has today achieved unprecedented economic growth, leaving lessons, learning lessons for the rest of us.” Bhutto remarked while praising the people-friendly policies that result in economic growth “only if it benefits the poorest of the society.” Bhutto Zardari mentioned CPEC being “initiated during the Pakistan People’s Party government under the leadership of Asif Ali Zardari.”

In Tuesday’s video speech, the young Oxford graduate chairman praised China’s “humanitarian assistance during the pandemic” adding that despite the COVID crisis leading to a slowed economic wheel and malfunctioning healthcare systems globally, “China has achieved unprecedented economic growth.” He also thanked the CCP for donating vaccines to Pakistan.

He emphasized the connection between Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Chairman Mao, stating that the relationship between the two was the beginning of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor as we see today. The link between the countries will be “sustained by every coming connection.”

Pakistan People’s Party was founded in 1967 with progressive and socialist goals under Zulfikar Ali Bhutto who used the slogan “Roti, Kapra aur Makaan” to inspire the working class. His grandson now heads the party which has remained mired in allegations of nepotism and corruption since Benazir Bhutto became prime minister in 1989 and even after her assassination in 2007.

PPP governments have faced allegations of poor governance and an inability to uplift their poor constituencies, especially in Sindh. Under the presidency of Asif Zardari, inflation was reported at a thirty-year high of 25% according to State Bank Pakistan in November 2008. The government was able to bring it down to 6.9% by the end of 2012 as reported by Sohail Ahmad, Secretary of Statistics Division to Express Tribune. According to a report prepared by the Express Tribune, while income of urban households rose by 1.1% per year in the first three years of the PPP government, it declined by 0.8% per year in rural areas as of July, 2012. Bhutto Zardari, however, denies allegations of corruption, instead saying their governments are subject to witch hunts.

Imran Khan felicitates CCP

Last week, Prime Minister Imran Khan paid tributes to the Chinese Community Party on their 100th anniversary commending their policies and system of governance which introduced an efficient system of sifting talent and grooming. He lauded their alternative system which has “highlighted merit in society.”

He also said “we actually accept Chinese version” of the situation of Muslims in Xinjiang province.

Human rights group accuse China of detaining up to 1 million Uighur in detention camps against their will, forced abortions of women, and imprisoning hundreds of thousands. However, China denies these charges, describing the camps as “re-education camps” which it says are meant to be “voluntary schools for anti-extremism training.”