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Benazir’s seventh death anniversary observed: Zardari smells a rat in military courts move
* Former president sees possibility of him and Nawaz pushed behind bars by special courts * Will accept new law only after it is guaranteed that it won’t be used against any democratic party or a journalist * No difference between ‘good’ and ‘bad’ TalibanGARHI KHUDA BAKHSH: The 7th death anniversary of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto was observed across the country with great reverence on Saturday. Party leaders and workers paid rich tributes to their martyred leaders for her services to the country and party that led to her ultimate martyrdom.
A large number of party Jiyalas from all over the country visited the mausoleum of their leader at Garhi Khuda Bakhsh and offered Fateha. However, according to eyewitnesses, the gathering this year was less than the past years, and young workers missed their chairperson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari from the all-important event.
Addressing the function marking the martyrdom of Benazir Bhutto, former president and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Co-chairman Asif Zardari said that said that establishment of military courts was necessary in the prevailing situation, but warned that under the new law of military courts, one cannot rule out the possibility of both him and Prime Minister Nawaz ending up behind bars. He said it must be ensured that the law of military courts does not take the shape of a ‘black law’ in the future. Zardari said the last time this law was enacted the result was that “we were all in jails”. “We will accept the new law after it is ensured that tomorrow it is not used against any democratic party or a journalist.”
He said from Zia era till today, he and his party had always stood against all kinds of atrocities. “No terrorist can scare us under any situation and we will wage a war for the cause of protecting our rights,” he vowed.
Zardari said that he had been trained by late Benazir Bhutto, and expressed a resolve to continue standing up for what is right. He said that they would continue to fight to make this country stronger. He once again dispelled the impression that there was some kind of a misunderstanding between him and PPP Patron-in-Chief Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.
Reassuring that no cracks have appeared in the integrity of party leadership, Asif Ali Zardari vehemently dismissed reports that his son Bilawal Bhutto Zardari was angry with him over certain political decisions. “There is no truth in the rumours, propagandised by our rivals, that I and Bilawal are drifting apart,” Zardari said.
Zardari also denied reports that senior party leader Makhdoom Amin Fahim was angry with the decisions of the party leadership. He said Amin Fahim would never indulge in treason with the party.
Delivering an impassioned speech, the widower of the late prime minister of Pakistan said that had the carnage of Jiyalas (the PPP’s diehard workers) in Karachi been taken seriously back in the day, a tragedy like Peshawar school massacre would not have come to pass today. He said that they do not understand the difference between ‘good’ Taliban and ‘bad’ Taliban.
Zardari alleged that establishment has weakened jihad in Kashmir, adding that slain PPP leader Benazir always stressed that jihad in Afghanistan and Kashmir should always be kept separate. He said that only those would be buried in Garhi Khuda Bakhsh who had led the PPP and he would also be buried there.
Meanwhile, Quran Khawani and Fateha were held at Garhi Khuda Bakhsh.
Asif Ali Zardari, Bakhtawar Bhutto, Makhdoom Muhammad Amin Faheem, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) President Sardar Muhammad Yaqoob Khan, AJK Prime Minister Chaudhry Abdul Majeed, Gilgit-Baltistan Governor, Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Minister Syed Mehdi Shah, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Senate Chairman Syed Nayyar Bukhari, Rehman Malik, Sherry Rehman, Qamar Zaman Kaira, Syed Naveed Qamar, Syed Khursheed Ahmed Shah, Manzoor Wattoo, Farhatullah Babar, Jahangir Badar, Sindh Assembly Speaker Agha Siraj Khan Durrani, senators and provincial ministers visited the graves of Benazir Bhutto, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and others. They placed floral wreaths at the grave and offered Fateha. PPP leaders also reiterated their pledge to carry forward the mission for which Benazir Bhutto had laid down her life. They said that democracy had returned to the country owing to Benazir Bhutto’s sacrifices, and pledged to work for the betterment of the poor people of the country. A two-minute silence was also observed as a mark of respect for the slain leader.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk