Claim: A video shows Bilawal Bhutto Zardari criticising Shehbaz Sharif and the PML-N while speaking at the National Assembly.
Fact: PPP Chairman did not target the PML-N or the Prime Minister in the speech in question. In fact, the speech dates back to March 2024, long before tensions arose between the PML-N and PPP. Different remarks from the original footage have been spliced and edited together to create the impression that he criticised Shehbaz Sharif and the PML-N.
Recently, a video (archive) of Bilawal Bhutto Zardari delivering a speech in the National Assembly was shared on Facebook with the text:
“اس کو کہتے ہیں ننگا کرکے گھسیٹنا۔ ن لیگی کے لیے انتہائی شرم کا مقام ہے کہ کل کا بچہ ان کو ان کے سامنے ہی بے عزت کر رہا ہے”
[Translation: “This is what it means to drag someone naked. It’s an extremely shameful moment for the PML-N that a young boy is humiliating them right in front of them!”]
Friction between PPP and PML-N
Since December 2024, tensions between the PPP and PML-N have risen with members of the PPP criticising the federal government. The party warned may withdraw its support due to unfulfilled commitments and a lack of joint consultation on key decisions. The PPP also condemned the government’s unilateral establishment of the Pakistan Maritime and Shipping Port Authority without informing the party or the Sindh government and argued that the government has a pattern of sidelining allies.
Recently, PPP member Shazia Marri warned that if the government backtracked on its commitments regarding the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP), the PPP would not only boycott the upcoming budget but take a more serious step, reported Dawn. Labelling the coalition as the weakest government in history, Marri asserted that it fails to recognise how much it relies on the PPP’s support.
Meetings between both parties’ leaders failed to resolve disputes in the past, resulting in the ongoing friction. The claim being fact-checked in this article has possibly emerged amid this growing rift between the PPP and PML-N.
Fact or Fiction?
The claim appeared dubious because local media outlets would have widely reported the PPP Chairman’s remarks if he had indeed targeted the Prime Minister during a recent speech in the National Assembly. Soch Fact Check investigated the claim after noting the absence of any credible news coverage on such a statement by Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari.
Additionally, different segments of the speech appeared to be oddly edited together. Therefore, we reverse-searched keyframes of the video to trace the original speech and found a version of it shared on 4 March 2024 on 24 News HD’s YouTube channel.
Given that the speech dates back to 4 March 2024, well before tensions arose between the PPP and PML-N, it seemed unlikely that the PPP Chairman would criticise the Prime Minister or PML-N. Still, we reviewed the complete footage to understand the context of his remarks in the viral video.
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari began by congratulating the Prime Minister and the Chief Ministers of all four provinces. At 13:57, he stated, “Iss house mein kisi aik jamaat ke paas woh mandate nahi hai. Pakistan ke awaam ne aisa faisla sunaya hai jahan aap ko majbooran mil baith ke faislay karnay pareinge. Koi ek jamaat faisla nahi kar sakti.” [No single party has a clear mandate in this House. The people of Pakistan have given a verdict that forces you to make decisions collectively. No single party can decide alone.]
At 14:11, the camera cut to PTI members – not PML-N. The PPP Chairman then continued, “Aap ko apni tamaam NA ki reserve seats mil bhi jayein, aap yeh kursi nahi sambhaal saktay Pakistan People’s Party ke votes ke baghair.” [Even if you get all your reserved seats in the National Assembly, you cannot hold onto this position without the votes of the Pakistan People’s Party.] This particular segment is one of the clips included in the viral video. However, when his statement is understood in the complete context, it becomes evident that Bilawal Bhutto was addressing the PTI and not the PML-N and emphasising the significance of the PPP’s role in the House.
At 14:43, PTI member Jamshed Dasti heckled the PPP Chairman. In response, the Speaker called the House to order, and Bilawal Bhutto Zardari continued his speech. He stated, “Agar aap waqai hi election jeet chukay ho tou aap jaantay ho ke Pakistan ke awaam mehengai ki wajah se, berozgaari ki wajah se, ghurbat ki wajah se tang aa chukay hain. Agar aap ko vote diya gaya hai tou sirf is liye nahi diya gaya ke yahan aake aap gaali dein, agar aap ko vote mila hai tou sirf is liye nahi diya hai ke…” [If you have truly won the election, then you know that the people of Pakistan are fed up with inflation, unemployment, and poverty. If they have voted for you, it is not just so you can come here and hurl insults. If you have received votes, it is not just for that purpose…]
At 15:48, the video showed PTI members as the PPP Chairman continued, “Yahan aake aap shor sharaba karein. Agar Pakistan ke awaam ne aap ko vote diya, ya mujhe vote diya, ya inko vote diya, tou sirf is liye ke hum inko iss muaashi bohran se bachayein.” [You come here to create chaos. If the people of Pakistan have voted for you, for me, or for them, it is only so we can save them from this economic crisis.]
This part of the speech is also included in the viral video. However, again, it is clear that he is referring to the PTI and not PML-N.
The PPP Chairman then spoke about rising inflation and the increasing financial burdens on the people. At 17:27, he questioned, “Pakistan ki awaam jaye tou kahan jaye, Janaab-e-Speaker? Aap bijli ke bill bhejtay rehtay hain, unko khanay peenay ke ashiyaat ka bandobast karna parta hai.” [Where should the people of Pakistan go, Mr Speaker? They keep receiving electricity bills while also having to arrange for food and other essentials.]
He went on to emphasise the importance of political parties working together to solve economic challenges and argued that if a party refuses to collaborate, it loses the right to criticise government policies. If a party refuses to engage simply because it does not recognise the prime minister, then it has no grounds to criticise the government’s economic decisions, he added.
Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari referenced “Qaidi number 804” while speaking of election irregularities and discussing the need for electoral reforms. He pointed out how some candidates were declared victorious on election night, while others had to wait for their results for days, including himself, who was still waiting for his Form 45s. He was not criticising the PML-N-led government in particular.
Finally, mentioning Shehbaz Sharif and “Qaidi number 804”, he stressed that future elections, regardless of the winner, should be free from controversy.
Bhutto’s NA speech was also shared by Capital TV and Aaj TV Official. In this footage as well, his speech followed the same course.
After reviewing the full speech and the context of Bilawal Bhutto’s remarks, Soch Fact Check concludes that he did not criticise Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif or the PML-N. In fact, most of his criticism was aimed at the PTI while his other questions drew attention towards the country’s deteriorating economic situation and the newly elected government’s need to address them urgently, back in March 2024.
Virality
The claim garnered significant traction on Facebook receiving over 42,000 likes and 11,000 shares. It was shared here (archive) on Facebook.
Conclusion: Bilawal Bhutto Zardari did not target or attack the Prime Minister or the PML-N in his National Assembly speech. The speech dates back to 4 March 2024, long before tensions arose between the PPP and PML-N. Different segments of his remarks have been spliced and edited together to create the impression that he criticised Shehbaz Sharif and the PML-N.
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Background image in cover photo: PID
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