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Keep hand on heart before you read me
Honest to Allah, I solemnly say on my honor that I had no intention whatsoever to head like this or even to comment on the two different events which coincidently had fallen almost the same time but nevertheless I being a Pakistani was certainly grieved though wished to sob which I could not because one can bring artificial smile on the face but not tears.
Father of the Nation Mohtaram Muhammad Ali Jinnah has born on 25th December which is the one of the biggest if not the biggest day in the history of Pakistan for the very simple reason that had he not been born then the question is as to who could be the other person amongst Muslims in India who could have strived on our behalf to get our beloved Pakistan so from that point of view his importance can neither be lessened nor ignored. I am very happy to note that 25th is a public holiday in Pakistan to remember the father of the nation and this practice is in vogue right from inception of Pakistan. The other important thing which needs due appreciation at each and every level is that armed guard is changed at Quaid’s Mausoleum on 25th December which is very good annual practice to be honest. The third activity of the day is that someone from our top brass likes President or PM so far as federal level in concerned or Governor or CM so far as Sindh province is concerned visit the Father of the Nation and lay flower wreaths at his grave and offer fathea khawani and to the best of my knowledge and belief there had been on lapse on this account which is worth praising. General public including men, women and children also flock to the Father to record their gratitude for the country he has very kindly gifted to us without we even asked for it. Then on the day our different television channels also air some programs eulogizing his services towards the country. Radio station also allots some of its transmission time to remember Quaed. Some NGOs, universities, colleges and schools to pay their respect to Father to the best of their capacity and sources so they all individually and collectively be appreciated for the respect they showed towards the Father.
Benazir Bhutto, one of our former prime minister was killed in suicidal attack in Rawalpindi on 27th December when she was in power however PPP headed by none but her husband President Asif Ali Zardari decided to show its muscles and popularity on her 5th death anniversary and therefore so much elaborate arrangements have been made for the day that perhaps it had not happened so earlier in the history of Pakistan to prove to Pakistanis that her popularity amongst the masses of the country has not faded away even though she died way back 5 years ago. I need not waste time to write what arrangements have been done which can be read since I have copied and pasted some news cuttings from our different daily newspapers to support and prove my point of view in any case. However let me hurriedly go through some of the salient features what PPP has done at Garhi Khuda Bukhsh where BB is buried in her exclusive Bhutto family graveyard. President Zardari himself along with Prime Minister Raja is very much at the place whereas all the ministers both central and provincial, MNAs & MPAs belonging to PPP along with its leaders either at central, provincial, divisional, district and local level etc have also been dragged to come to GKB for the purpose. Thousands of people as well have been transported from all over the country to be physically present in GKB to offer fateha. Thousands of policemen together with large contingents of army and rangers too have been brought in to man all the routes leading to GKB. Special detective gates have also been erected all around and anyone entering GKB shall have to pass through the screening devices so that none can carry any explosive and or detonating material to the venue. Sniffer dogs have also been deployed for the purpose to thwart any subversive activity. All cars are also subjected to thorough checking by the concerned detective specialists before those can be driven to GKB. It is really shameful to pen what U have seen on television screens.
What does it prove, to forcibly drag thousands of people to GKB may I dare ask if not annoying? Did Zardari from any set of imagination succeed in telling the people at large that her wife BB though died 5 years ago is still so popular that thousands of people have come to pay their last respects at her grave on 27th instant? Did Zardari try to gain popularity amongst the masses of the country to get more and more votes in the coming elections which are very much knocking in any case? Who authorized Zardari and his junta to spend millions and not thousands from public exchequer which is always in deficit on such like event is the most burning question which every Pakistani has an inborn right to ask? Where is our Finance Minister, Auditor General, Public Accounts Committee or Ombudsman etc to ask Zardari to answer as to under what authority he could burn public money just for one day?
The worst of all is that Zardari did not show the simplest courtesy to go to Father of the Nation to pay his respects on 25th instant but he had reached GKB on 26th along with big and high paraphernalia to offer fateha which is very much objectionable indeed if one really realizes quite impartially and judiciously. If Father had not gifted Pakistan then the simplest and brute question is as to how could either BB or even Zardari had been on the throne? It is really very shameful to pen that on different television channels which covered the event one could see that many people had smile on their faces but a very few wept or were found to be sad very well proves that the people gad nit come out if love and respect for BB rather in fact they have brought just build up numbers. Zardari, Bilawal and others who wore black dress does not necessarily mean that they were really aggrieved from inside their heart as at times one could see smile on their faces too which very well proves that the whole activity was just nothing more than a mock show. Anyone who has put his or hand on his or her heart will get the answer that when Zardari has done so much on 5th death anniversary if BB, he should not have ignored the Father of the Nation come what may. Who supports me and who opposes me?
Iqbal Hadi Zaidi / Kuwait
Benazir’s death anniversary today
LARKANA – The fifth death anniversary of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto would be observed with great reverence throughout the country today (Thursday).Pakistan People’s Party has finalized arrangements for a grand ceremony at Garhi Khuda Bakhsh in this regard. The ruling party is all set to launch its chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari into active politics with an announcement in this regard is expected at Garhi Khuda Baksh today. President Asif Ali Zardari, who is also co-chairperson of the party, has called a meeting of PPP’s central executive committee at Naudero. “Important announcements about PPP’s future plans are expected after the meeting,” sources said. Besides the launch of Bilawal Bhutto, party’s manifesto ahead of general election is also likely to be released. Also, the PPP leadership is expected to reveal key information concerning the assassination of Benazir Bhutto. The main objective of the information will be to pacify party workers and silence the PPP critics who had been demanding the arrest of Benazir’s killers during the party’s four-year rule. The information could also be utilized to the benefit of the PPP in the elections. Almost all top PPP leaders have arrived in Garhi Khuda Baksh where hundreds of thousands of party workers have gathered to pay homage to their late leader.President Asif Ali Zardari on Wednesday visited the mausoleum of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto at Garhi Khuda Bakhsh, laid a floral wreath and showered flower petals on the grave and offered fateha. He also visited the graves of PPP founder Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Madar-e-Jamhooriat Begum Nusrat Bhutto, Murtaza Bhutto and Shahnawaz Bhutto, laid floral wreaths and offered fateha. Meanwhile, PPP Chairman Bilawal Zardari along-with his sisters, Bakhtawar Zardari and Aseefa Zardari, visited the graveyard. They visited the graves of Benazir Bhutto, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Begum Nusrat Bhutto, Shireen Amir Begum, Mir Murtaza Bhutto and Mir Shahnawaz Bhutto, offered fateha and laid floral wreaths. Foolproof security arrangements have been made in connection with the 5th death anniversary of Shaheed Bhutto. More than 6,000 police officials and jawans have been deployed at Garhi Khuda Bakhsh where people from across the country have reached. Besides, more than 500 rangers and commandos will perform their duties. In order to monitor the situation, some 55 secret cameras are also being installed. Four control rooms have been set up to be manned by police officials to convey activities to the main control room. In order to guide women visitors, some 2,000 women police officers and personnel will also be present on duty. In order to ensure better security, walkthrough gates have been installed at the entrances of the mazar. Special traffic arrangements are also in place to ensure smooth flow of traffic and traffic signs have been installed throughout Larkana. In order to maintain traffic flow, a route map has also been prepared. To meet any emergency, 126 traffic mobiles, 18 open trucks, 48 motorcycles and 12 vehicles have been arranged. The officials said scanners had been installed at the entry points and visitors are being frisked. Around 40 acres of land have been allocated for parking of 10,000 vehicles, some 4 to 6 kilometers away from the public gathering. The authorities are conducting snap checking at all entry and exit points. Paying rich tribute to Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto for her fight against dictatorship and oppression, President Zardari has pledged to continue strengthening democracy and extricate the downtrodden from poverty and degradation.“To pay tribute to her memory let us pledge to continue strengthening democracy and extricate the downtrodden from poverty and degradation. With the support of the people of Pakistan we will continue our forward march along the path that has been illumined by her with her blood,” the President said in his message on the occasion of 5th martyrdom anniversary of Shaheed Benazir.President Zardari said “December 27th is one of the saddest day in the history of the country. It was on this day when the nation lost its twice elected Prime Minister, the first female Prime Minister of Islamic world, an indomitable fighter for democracy and the rights of marginalized and exploited.” “But while mourning the death of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, we also celebrate her illustrious life and the values for which she stood and fought for,” he added. The President said, “Today we celebrate the life of a great leader, who fought against dictatorship, oppression and tyranny for establishing a democratic and pluralistic society as envisaged by our founding fathers. We celebrate her courage in the epic struggle against militants and extremists that she led from the front.”
PPP caravan leaves for Garhi Khuda Bux
KARACHI: The caravan of the office bearers and workers of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Karachi Division led by MNA Abdul Qadir Patel left here on Wednesday for Garhi Khuda Bux to attend the death anniversary of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto. Earlier, the caravans of PPP activists and workers of district East, West, South, Malir and Central joined the main caravan at Kathore on the Super Highway, some 42 kms from here. This was told by Information Secretary of the PPP Karachi Division Lateef Mughal while talking to APP. He said the participants of carvan were carrying party flags, portraits of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, founder of PPP Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, President Asif Ali Zardari, Chairman PPP Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, besides banners inscribed with the sayings of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto. The caravans of around 25,000 men boarded hundreds of buses, wagons and other vehicles for their journey to Garhi Khuda Bux. He said a delegation of PPP Karachi Division’s Mazar Committee led by Saeed Chawla and Aslam Samoo had already left for Larkana on Sunday to set up reception camps at Garhi Khuda Bux to receive the caravans of PPP Karachi. He further informed that PPP Karachi Division President MNA Abdul Qadir Patel, Senator Saeed Ghani along with Sindh Minister Nadeem Bhutto, President PPP Karachi South Haji Qasim Baloch, President Malir Raja Abdul Razzaq, President Central Suhail Abidi and President East Saeed Chawla are leading the carvans of the PPP Karachi Division. App
ISLAMABAD: The 136th birth anniversary of the Father of the Nation Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah was celebrated throughout the country on Tuesday with national spirit and enthusiasm.
The day dawned with special prayers in mosques for the Quaid, and prosperity and development of Pakistan. It was a public holiday and national flag was hoisted on all public and private buildings. People from different walks of life visited the mausoleum of the Quaid to pay homage to the great leader.
Different organizations and academic and other institutions organized programs to pay homage to the Father of the Nation. The newspapers published special supplements and electronic channels and radio aired special programs on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Quaid-i-Azam. A smartly turned out contingent of Pakistan Military Academy Kakul took over guards’ duties at the mausoleum of Founder of Pakistan Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah. Pakistan Television and private channels presented special programs and newspapers would bring out special editions in regards of the great leader.
Radio Pakistan also broadcast special programmes highlighting the achievements of the Quaid-i-Azam in his efforts for a separate homeland for the Muslims of the subcontinent. Panel discussions, special dramas, broadcast of Quaid’s voice besides impressions of people from different walks of life about the personality and his achievements of the Founder of Pakistan were also aired.
Jinnah was a man of principles. He was probably the only person among all the big leaders of the world, who never went to jail. He was the first Governor General of Pakistan. His motto was Unity, Faith and Discipline. The Quaid-i-Azam’s vision of the Pakistan was a democratic and impregnable welfare state where people could live with love, fraternity and harmony. The Quaid also desired that every citizen should have equal opportunities of education, health, progress and justice.
President inaugurates new cricket stadium
Thursday, December 27, 2012 - Garhi Khuda Bakhsh—President Asif Ali Zardari on Wednesday inaugurated Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto International CricketStadium here at Garhi Khuda Bakhsh, Naudero.
after the inauguration ceremony, the President said that one of the missions of the Government was to provide healthy activities for the youth so that their energies are diverted towards positive activities and away from extremism.
“We will continue to provide facilities for healthy sports activities,” he said on the occasion.
The President complimented Pakistan Cricket Board, its Chairman Zaka Ashraf and all those who helped build the cricket stadium.
The President said that sometime back as the Patron of Pakistan Cricket Board he had asked the Board to build an international standard cricket stadium at Garhi Khuda Bakhsh to provide an opportunity to the local children to test their skills, train and become the best in the world.
This vision, he said, has been translated into reality today as the first phase of the cricket stadium has been inaugurated.
The President on the occasion also congratulated the youth of Larkana, and the whole province, on the setting up of this facility.
According to prepared text of his remarks, the President said that for years there was a sense of deprivation amongst the rural population of Sindh.
Lack of sport facilities in Sindh had prevented talented youth to produce world class athletes, he added.
He said that in the next phase, a cricket academy with state- of-the-art facilities and best coaches to train the local players would also be set up in the area.
He said, “I can see that quite a few players representing Pakistan internationally will come from this area.”
Noting the addition of Larkana, Dera Murad Jamali, FATA and Bahawalpur in the cricket setup recently, the President remarked that this would promote cricket across the country and upgrade skills of the local cricketers.
He said that cricket was a passion for Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto.
Cricket, he said, is a passion for him and for millions of people all over Pakistan. It is a unifying force and it can be used to project the message of peace, he added.
Complimenting Zaka Ashraf, Chairman PCB, and his team for putting this show together in a short span of time, the President wished him and the PCB well with their plans of bringing international cricket to the country.
Chairman PCB Zaka Ashraf also spoke on the occasion and thanked the President for his personal interest in promotion of the cricket in the country. Earlier, the President also visited the mazars of Shuhuda in Garhi Khuda Bakhsh and offered Fateha for the departed soul.
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