Jubilant jiyalas kick off festivities

Distribute sweets and perform folk dances across country

KARACHI/LAHORE:

The PPP on Saturday celebrated the election of its co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari’s as the country’s president for the second time -- distributing sweets, chanting slogans, displaying fireworks and performing traditional folk dances across the country.

In Karachi, as the news of Zardari’s victory spread, Bilawal House and PPP’s Secretariat erupted with festivities.

Spilling onto various major thoroughfares of the country’s economic hub, jiyalas -- a term commonly used for the PPP’s diehard activists and supporters -- waved party flags and chanted slogans in favour of Zardari.

There were even more festivities in other parts of Sindh, particularly at Naudero House in Larkana where party activists and supporters danced to the tune of the party’s anthem.

Similar scenes were witnessed at Zardari House in Nawabshah, where jubilant jiyalas celebrated the PPP co-chairperson’s victory in the presidential poll by dancing and distributing sweets.

In Lahore, PPP activists and supporters danced to the beat of drums outside the Punjab Assembly.

The provincial capital’s Mall Road, Governor House and Chairing Cross were adorned with party flags, signboards and banners welcoming the new president.

Several party activists and supporters gathered at Chairing Cross where they danced to the tune of the party’s anthem, performed bhangra and distributed sweets.

A spectacular display of firework was also organised on the occasion.

The air resonated with the slogan of ‘Aik Zardari Sab Pay Bhari’ (one Zardari outweighs all) as PPP leaders held the party co-chairperson’s banners and celebrated his victory with unwavering enthusiasm.

Earlier in the day, the PPP co-chairperson was elected as the president of the country for the second time, following polling at a joint session of parliament.

The results from the Senate and National Assembly combined showed Zardari obtaining 255 votes against Sunni Ittehad Council’s (SIC) candidate Mahmood Khan Achakzai's 119 votes.

(With input from our News Desk in Karachi)