PPP Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has said that the incident during the party's public gathering in Khanewal that left his sister Aseefa Bhutto Zardari in need of medical treatment was a "message" to him and his father.
"The drone made its way - in a methodical manner - towards my sister and physically hit her," said Bilawal during a press conference in Islamabad on Thursday.
The PPP leader is in Islamabad after leading a whirlwind "Awami March" that left Karachi almost two weeks ago to reach the capital on Wednesday as part of its efforts to oust PM Imran Khan while the combined opposition seeks a no-confidence move against the incumbent in the National Assembly .
Speaking about the drone incident, he said the PPP would engage international experts to ascertain whether the drone actually got out of control as claimed by its operator or if it was a warning shot for the PPP leadership.
He also lashed out at the premier for what he called was threatening Zardari's life. While speaking to supporters in Karachi on Wednesday, PM Imran thundered that he "has turned his guns on Zardari. He is my first target."
We are not children anymore
Bilawal advised the premier against considering the next generation of PPP leaders as children and warned him against using violent tactics. "Threats against our family aren't acceptable. We were young at the time of Benazir Bhutto's assassination but not anymore."
The PPP chief asserted that while the party was against violence, "we know how to use guns" in what is believed to be a response to PM Imran's threatening message from the other day.
PM's use of language
The PPP chief also lashed out at the PM for using derogatory language aganst Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehamn, who is also the head of the JUI-F.
On Wednesday, the premier repeatedly referred to Fazlur Rehman as "Diesel" while stating that he would never use the honorific "Maulana" for him while accusing him of corruption. Bilawal emphasised that despite political differences, he had never resorted to such language exhibiting disrespect for the PDM chief.
The PM had also mocked Bilawal over his Urdu spoonerism while exhorting Asif Zardari to teach his son the language.
He went on to say that the PM's behaviour exhibited his nervousness ahead of the no-confidence vote submitted by the opposition seeking his ouster. "I am confident that this black spot on the face of parliament will be removed and his [PM Imran's] days are numbered," he said.
Volley of accusations
Bilawal also took aim at PM Imran's family for involvement in corruption including the PM Imran's wife, claiming that placements in Punjab are dependent on payments to First Lady Bushra Bibi. He also suggested that Usman Buzdar's appointment as Punjab Chief Minister was a result of such collusion.
He also said that the country found it incredulous that Aleema Khan, Imran Khan's sister, made her fortune through her sewing machine business. The premier's sister had told the top court that her foreign assets and holdings were due to the profits generated through her business.
Questioning the source of PM's income, Bilawal claimed that the premier had funnelled funds collected for his philanthropic cancer hospital project for personal use.
