- Title: UK: Bilawal Bhutto Zardari launches Pakistan flood appeal
- Date: 8th August 2010
- Summary: LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM (AUGUST 7, 2010) (REUTERS) ( ** BEWARE FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY **) VARIOUS EXTERIORS OF PAKISTAN HIGH COMMISSION MAN LOOKING DOWN FROM HIGH COMMISSION BALCONY OFFICIALS ARRIVING CARRYING PAKISTAN FLAGS PORTRAITS OF THE BHUTTO FAMILY BILAWAL BHUTTO ZARDARI, SON OF PAKISTAN PRESIDENT, ARRIVING FOR NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (English) BILAWAL BHUTTO ZARDARI, SAYING: "Good morning everybody. Sorry I didn't expect there to be this much press and I didn't realise this would be the format of the event so I will keep my statement short. As we all know Pakistan is facing the worst floods in living memory. The floodwaters have devastated the lives of a people who have already suffered the most at the hands of terrorists. I ask everyone to do what you can to help the people of Pakistan. This is not a time to play politics, we need to do whatever is necessary to help our brothers and sisters in Pakistan. Thankyou." MEDIA (SOUNDBITE) (English) PAKISTAN'S HIGH COMMISSIONER TO BRITAIN, WAJID SHAMSUL HASAN SAYING: "This function was organised to make an appeal to the international media as well as Pakistan's media to the people of Britain as well as the international community also the Pakistani community to come forward and generously donate to the prime minister's relief fund." BILAWAL ZARDARI WATCHING VARIOUS OF PEOPLE HANDING OVER CHEQUES AS DONATIONS MEDIA MORE DONATIONS MEDIA (SOUNDBITE) (English) BILAWAL BHUTTO ZARDARI, SAYING: "To help with rehabilitation after the floods have gone, after the media have gone and after the people are not paying attention. He has also come to France and got five million euros from them. Twenty million euros from the British government. If he thought he would be more useful in Pakistan, I am sure he would be there." QUESTION ABOUT HIS POLITICAL ROLE - "Its all not true" QUESTION "Some people are saying you are using your father's visit to launch your own political career. ANSWER "No, that's all lies, I am sorry for the misinformation." BILAWAL BHUTTO ZARDARI ENDING NEWS CONFERENCE AND WALKING FROM ROOM
- Embargoed: 23rd August 2010 13:00
- Keywords:
- Topics: Disasters / Accidents / Natural catastrophes
- Reuters ID: LVA4RX4YM9PV36J8H194DH0BRL2U
- Story Text: Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, the 21-year-old son of assassinated former Pakistan prime minister Benazir Bhutto, and son of president Zardari on Saturday (August 7) helped launch an appeal for Pakistan flood victims.
"The floodwaters have devastated the lives of a people who have already suffered the most at the hands of terrorists. I ask everyone to do what you can to help the people of Pakistan. This is not a time to play politics, we need to do whatever is necessary to help our brothers and sisters in Pakistan," Zardari told a news conference at Pakistan's High Commission in London.
Pakistan's High Commissioner to Britain, Wajid Shamsul Hasan said the situation in Paksitan was desperate.
"This function was organised to make an appeal to the international media as well as Pakistan's media to the people of Britain as well as the international community also the Pakistani community to come forward and generously donate to the prime minister's relief fund," he said.
Bilawal Zardari also robustly defended his father, president Zardari who is facing criticism for travelling to Europe at a time of crisis at home saying his father had raised money from both the French and British governments.
"If he thought he would be more useful in Pakistan, I am sure he would be there," he said.
The recent Oxford University graduate angrily denied he was using his father's visit to launch his own political career.
"No, that's all lies, I am sorry for the misinformation," he said before leaving to join his father at a rally in Birmingham. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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