Homecoming, ANP Style: Senator-elect Shahi Syed gets rousing welcome
Awami National Party (ANP) leaves no opportunity to tell its rivals that it too, has become a dominant force in Karachi.
When Shahi Syed, the president for the party’s Sindh chapter, arrived in Karachi on Monday hundreds of party supporters went to receive him at the airport. Acting upon the philosophy of ‘your enemy is my friend’ members of Muhajir Qaumi Movement-Haqiqi (MQM-H) also chipped in their share of welcome for the leader.
Small rallies emerged from parts of the city and converged at Jinnah International Airport.
Shahrae Faisal, Korangi Road, Karsaz Road and adjoining roads were jammed for hours as vehicles bearing red flags and bursting with young men travelled towards and came back from the airport. Containers were placed on Defence Morr, blocking traffic from Sunset Boulevard and causing traffic jams in DHA. At least three flights were delayed as passengers couldn’t make it to the airport on time.
While the procession was making its way towards Shahi Syed’s residence, who also became a senator in the elections held on March 2, a chartered plane dropped flowers on it near Karsaz.
Pamphlets were also distributed with congratulations for Shahi Syed.
Although he did not take the name of any party, his message was loud and clear. “Karachi does not belong to just one party,” he said to his supporters on Korangi Road. “We have no fight to pick with the Urdu-speaking people but the struggle is against those who want to destroy the peace of the city.” He said that his party believed in non-violence. “We have come to the field to fight aggression and fear that has been haunting the city for years. Now the Pakhtuns of Karachi also have a representation in the Senate.”
Shahi Syed also said a few words in support of MQM-H leader, Afaq Ahmed. “There should be an investigation into the false cases filed against Afaq which resulted in his ten-year imprisonment.”
He also had a message for the leader of Tehreek-e-Suba Hazara, Baba Haider Zaman. The party held a rally in Karachi only a day back to push their demand for a separate province. “The people of Hazara are from among us and those who want to spread hatred cannot stop us,” he said. “If Baba Zaman wants a separate province he should go to Khyber-Pakthunkawa and hold public rallies. It is not right to disturb peace of Karachi.”
Published in The Express Tribune, March 6th, 2012.
COMMENTS (8)
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@farhan:
he'd be lucky to get his deposit money back in khi
“If Baba Zaman wants a separate province he should go to Khyber-Pakthunkawa and hold public rallies. It is not right to disturb peace of Karachi.”
and what did you just do yesterday evening Senator Shahi Syed
What a joke?, elected from KP while residing in Karachi. If he is such a politician then he should be contesting his seat from Karachi. what a Mockery...
Why are these political parties allowed to disrupt every ones lives at the drop of a hat. Great that he won a Senate seat but to block roads, create traffic jams and inconvenience the general public who missed flights, were late fore meetings, could not make it to hospitals is shameful!!!
Shame on all these politicians! Becoming a senator does not give you a license to create havoc in the city and massive traffic jams. I can only imagine how many ambulances must have stuck, important business meetings missed let alone the delay in the flights as mentioned in this news item.
What exactly were they celebrating? Becoming a government servant on tax payers money!
I hate this guy he has been promoting hatred among ethnic lines, theres a large segment of of Pakhtun population of Karachi that hates this guy. do watch his program with Shahzaib khanzada, where he proclaimed that all education in Karachi from primary to Proffessional (KU and NED) are fake, while he himself is a matric pass.
This man is very simple and brave.