Bilawal slams 'politics of hatred' over Thar students’ MDCAT success

THAR: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Monday criticised what he described as “the politics of hatred” following the success of students from Thar in the MDCAT 2026 examination, saying the achievements of Thar’s youth should be celebrated rather than politicised.

Addressing the inauguration ceremony of the Thar Coal Phase-III project, Bilawal said Thar had emerged as an example of the success of the 18th Amendment.

He said students from Thar had consistently achieved top positions in examinations and criticised those who, instead of congratulating them, were engaging in what he called politics of hatred and division.

“Thar and its children will continue to progress. The children of Thar are topping MDCAT and other examinations, and this has become a tradition,” he said.

Bilawal said the development model witnessed in Thar should be replicated across the country, including through public-private partnerships.

He said he wanted to bring similar development to Karachi and other parts of Pakistan, adding that the model of development and success achieved in Thar should be implemented nationwide.

Referring to calls for the creation of new provinces, Bilawal said a narrative was being pushed that the existing system had failed and that new provinces were therefore needed.

“I do not understand the logic that if the system has failed, new provinces should be created,” he said.

Bilawal challenged those criticising the existing system to hand over the responsibility of Islamabad to the people of Thar.

“If Islamabad has failed, hand it over to Thar. Give us responsibility for Islamabad and we will show what the people and youth of Thar can achieve,” he said.

He added that the people of Thar could help improve Islamabad’s education and healthcare systems, saying the capital’s children could be helped to achieve top positions in examinations and its hospitals could be brought up to international standards.

“Give us responsibility for Islamabad and we will bring change there,” Bilawal said.

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The PPP chairman also criticised what he described as attempts to introduce divisive politics in Sindh, saying his party would not allow politics based on hatred and division to take root in the province.