Members of the civil society were irked by the presence of the Pakistan Peoples Party leaders and workers at the demonstration that they had organised at Do Talwar to pay tribute to the victims of the Peshawar school carnage. PHOTO: ATHAR KHAN/EXPRESS
KARACHI: The civil society's planned demonstration in Karachi to remember the victims of the devastating Peshawar school carnage was hijacked by the Pakistan Peoples Party's (PPP) workers and leaders who used the opportunity to steal the limelight.
The attempt to give a political flavour to the demonstration did not fare well with the organisers and other members of the civil society who were present at the site. No sooner had the PPP's lawmakers arrived at the venue that some of the activists lashed at them for sabotaging their peaceful vigil.
"What are you doing at this vigil?" asked an elderly woman of PPP leader Sherry Rehman. The latter replied that she had come to show her solidarity with the victims of the Peshawar incident. Sensing the rising tensions, the other activists forced their way between the two women and ushered the elderly woman away from the scene.
Nina Abbas, a relative of the same elderly activist, while speaking to The Express Tribune, questioned the motives of the PPP representatives' presence at the vigil. "I am highly offended by their presence and above all, with their party slogans," she said, as slogans of 'Jiye Bhutto' and 'Hum jiyalay kis kay? Bhutto kay' (Long live Bhutto) and (We are the supporters of whom? Of Bhutto's) echoed in the background. "No sane personality, who is here to mourn the devastating incident, can tolerate such slogans."
One of the volunteers, Dr Talha Rehman, tried to downplay the estrangement by maintaining that they combined their vigil with the PPP because the motive was the same. "We all are against terrorism," he said. "So there's nothing wrong with their presence."
Rehman, however, could not stick to his mediatory stance for long as the guards of Qadir Patel rushed through the pavement of Do Talwar. "The party leaders assured us that there won't be any political slogans," he said. "But they failed to keep their promise." Rehman said that there was no point of having party flags when the Pakistani flag was already present at the event.
Meanwhile, Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) MNA Syed Ali Raza Abidi, who was also present at the site, seemed quite disgruntled with the PPP leaders too.
He said that the events had laid bare the opportunism of the PPP. "They have tried to make it their party procession by downplaying the actual cause of the gathering."
PPP's stance
For her part, PPP MNA Nafeesa Shah shunned all the allegations against the party. "There is nothing wrong with the party slogans being raised here," she said. "Our Bibi sacrificed her life in the fight against terrorism. Had the then government taken concrete action against terrorism, we would not have seen this day."
The altercations, however, failed to dampen the spirit of the activists as people from all walks of life made their way to the venue to show their solidarity with the victims' families.
Journalist Ghazi Salahuddin was of the opinion that the vigil should have been sober, quiet and devoid of political slogans.
"My heart is full of sorrow over the Peshawar incident," he said. "It took place hardly a month ago and we are back to our lives. Events like these should continue to happen so that we do not forget the barbaric acts of the terrorists."
Published in The Express Tribune, January 17th, 2015.
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So-called civil society should learn to be patient. I hope more political parties join such vigils and compete for attendance at their events. So far every vigil has had a poor attendance and perhaps if more and more people comeout on the streets others would get courage while some would finally be able to pick sides i.e. if they are with Pakistan or with Taliban.