Memorial: ‘Mourning the day hope took a bullet’

Hundreds of activists travelled to Larkana to pay homage at the grave of the slain leader, says Ghurki.

LAHORE:

Hundreds of Pakistan Peoples Party workers on Friday gathered in front of the Lahore Press Club to pay tribute to former prime minister Benazir Bhutto on the sixth anniversary of her assassination.

The memorial was organised by PPP Women’s Wing. The participants carried torches and pictures of Benazir Bhutto. They prayed for Benazir and chanted slogans against the killers. After the prayers pictures of Benazir were carried on 68 carts to the Assembly chambers where workers held another vigil.

Ghurki said Benazir’s loss had caused irreparable harm.

“Hope took a bullet the day she was killed,” Ghurki said. She said hundreds of activists had travelled to Larkana to pay homage at the grave of the slain leader.  Speaking on the occasion, PPP Punjab chapter president Manzoor Wattoo said PPP activists had not forgotten Benazir’s struggle against oppressors. He said the PPP was a party for common man. He said Benazir had laid down her life in the fight for democracy.

“Benazir believed in political reconciliation,” he said. “She forgave those who tried to take her life.” He said by announcing his decision to contest in by-polls, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari had shown that he was committed to fighting oppression and injustice. He said Bilawal would carry on the legacy of the Bhutto family.

“Today people stand by Bilawal just as they did with his mother, because they have faith in his leadership,” he added.  Messiah Millat Party leader Aslam Pervez Sohtra said six years later, the nation still mourned Benazir’s assassination.

He said her commitment to democracy and freedom would not be forgotten.

“No one can deny Benazir’s contributions,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 28^th, 2013.