Bilawal Bhutto Zardari Celebrates Diwali with the Hindu Community of Sindh · Global Voices
Anushe Noor

Bilawal Bhutto Zardari hailed the anti-polio workers across Pakistan on world polio day. Image by reporter #7587667     Copyright Demotix. (15/10/2013)
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, chairman of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP), celebrated Diwali with members from the Hindu community at his family house in Naundero, Larkana on 23 October 2014.
Bilawal, son of the first female Prime Minister of Pakistan Benazir Bhutto and grandson of the founder of PPP Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto follows their ideology of religious tolerance and inter-faith friendship. He wished the community through Twitter:
Diwali Mubarik to all my Hindu brothers and sisters.Esp Hindu Pakistanis. #MarsoonMarsoonJinnahKaPakistanNaDaisoon http://t.co/xnrZcj6pbB — BilawalBhuttoZardari (@BBhuttoZardari) October 23, 2014
Talking about minorities, Bilawal said:
We will not tolerate discriminatory treatment of the minorities.
His speech took a political turn when he criticized the government by saying they were irresponsible regarding the rights of minorities. Referring to the assault on a Christian community at Joseph Colony and a bombing at a church in Peshawar, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said:
In Punjab, an attack takes place on a church in Joseph Colony, and no one speaks up! A blast occurs in a church in Peshawar and still silence!
He also performed the Diwali prayers at a temple that was burnt earlier this year and rebuilt by his party.
This act got a lot of media attention and was appreciated on social media. While writing for BBC, Shahzeb Jillani said:
There was little substance in his speech, though he made some bold points about the need to fight militancy and protect religious minorities.
Fayaz, an electrical engineering student, tweeted:
happy #Diwali to all my hindu brothers and sisters This is how we love nd celebrate with ppl of other religions #BBZ — Fayaz #Teambilawal (@ChacharFayaz) October 22, 2014
Majid Agha, a researcher and analyst, tweeted:
#BBZ visited “Temple” in Larkana, which was set on fire by extremists earlier this year. PPP reconstructed the temple pic.twitter.com/hjveAOltop — Majid Agha (@Majid_Agha) October 23, 2014
Journalist Ali Kamran Chishti tweeted:
Heartwarming to see #Karachites Muslims helping Hindu brothers & sisters celebrate #Diwali. This is real #Karachi – helping & tolerating! — Ali Kamran Chishti (@akchishti) October 24, 2014
The government of Sindh celebrated such events earlier as well, but this got a lot importance, as PPP aimed a political comeback through this. This act followed a large and well-attended rally in Karachi, which officially introduced Bilawal Bhutto Zardari as their leader.