Despite repeated announcements, projects and approvals the Pakistan People’s Party failed to construct the Banazir Bhutto a monument and a memorial library at the site of the tragedy that had claimed the life of the former prime minister Benazir Bhutto 14 years ago.
Former prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and the then interior minister Rehman Malik, after taking an oath and during their visit to the martyrdom site, had announced to build a memorial library.
While preparing the feasibility of the project, the monument and the library was estimated to cost Rs50 million. The project was to be started in 2008 and completed in 2010. But the PPP could not start the work on the project despite completing a five-year tenure in the centre.
Former Sindh chief minister Qaim Ali Shah during his visit to the memorial site had also announced to build a monument and also announced to provide funds for it but the project could not see the light of the day to date.
Under this project, a five-storey monument was to be constructed on a kanal of land with a library on one floor. The library was supposed to have books on the political history of Pakistan, the rare pictures of the Bhutto family and their political struggle.
Former president Asif Ali Zardari and party chief Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, despite the passage of 14 years, did not pay a single visit to the martyrdom site. However, this place continues to remain sacrosanct for party members and workers who show up in large numbers to pay homage to their charismatic and beloved late leader.
PPP city leaders including Babar Jadoon, Malik Khalid Nawaz Bobani, Iftikhar Chaudhry, Mian Khurram Rasool, Amir Fida Paracha along with other party workers have built the martyrdom site on one side in Liaquat Bagh Chowk with a big picture of Benazir Bhutto that was taken during her last speech erected on the site.
Every celebration and protest of the PPP local workers begins from the martyrdom site from where they continue to get energy. Every Thursday, candles are lit regularly by devoted party workers.
The PPP city office in front of the martyrdom site is shut as due to default, its electricity, gas and telephone connections have been cut off. The office also has huge property tax bills pasted on the main gate.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 27th, 2021.
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