Political feat: From Shujabad to Garhi Khuda Baksh on foot

‘It is an expression of confidence in President Zardari’s leadership’.

MULTAN: Shabbir Ahmed Chohan, 52, a Shujabad resident, has started a 650 kilometre journey from his hometown in Multan to Garhi Khuda Baksh on foot to attend 4th death anniversary ceremonies of Benazir Bhutto and to express his confidence in President Asif Ali Zardari’s leadership.

Chohan left Shujabad on Sunday after a farewall organised for him by the party’s Shujabad body.

By Tuesday (yesterday), he had walked up to Bahawalpur district, where he was scheduled to spend the night and resume the journey on Wednesday morning (today).

Talking to The Tribune, Chohan said he believed Zardari was the most suitable leader for the PPP and the country. “This journey is my tribute to the president. He has held the party together after the death of Bibi,” he said.

Chohan said he had been a PPP supporter since 1968 when he attended the first public rally of his life in Shujabad. “I remember the day my father took me to the rally where Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was to address. Sitting on my father’s shoulders, I watched Bhutto speak,” Chohan said.

PPP Shujabad president Aslam Raamay said party workers in Shujabad had pooled some money and given it to Chohan to assist him with the food, accommodation and other expenditures during the journey. He said arrangements were also in place for Chohan to spend nights at PPP workers’ houses but he had declined the offer. “He says he doesn’t want to be a burden on anyone,” he said.

Raamay said he and Shujabad workers would join Chohan in Garhi Khuda Baksh on Dec 27.

“Workers like Chohan are an example for people leaving the party. They should understand that their absence makes no difference to the party as long as it has the support of dedicated workers like Chohan,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 15^th, 2011.