Commemoration: Benazir’s fifth death anniversary marked with tears, tributes

In the absence of senior leaders, party workers, activists converged outside Liaquat Bagh, PPP secretariat, D-Chowk.

RAWALPINDI/ ISLAMABAD:

Tears and tributes flowed freely at the Benazir Bhutto’s fifth death anniversary on Thursday, as did political speeches and sloganeering at various events held in the twin cities.

A large number of workers and jiyalas thronged the spot outside the historic Liaquat Bagh where the Muslim world’s first woman prime minister was assassinated in a suicide and gun attack. Even though the absence of prominent leaders were conspicuous, some 2,000 workers had gathered at the memorial of Benazir to offer fateha and tribute to their slain leader.

Pakistan Baitul Mal Managing Director Zamurd Khan and PPP Rawalpindi chapter president Amir Fida Paracha were the only leaders present at the afternoon function, while Naheed Khan, the estranged leader and adviser to the former premier, offered fateha in the morning followed by a group of workers loyal to her. They showered rose petals on a life-size portrait of the slain leader.

Liaquat Bagh Road was blocked for vehicular traffic. But the organisers were unhappy with security arrangements saying it was not properly guarded from all sides. As usual, jiyalas fought over lunch and threw in punches and kicks to get a packet of pulao.

Candlelight vigil

An intimate gathering of activists and admirers of the late premier lit candles and showered petals on portraits of the revered leader on the Parade Avenue outside parliament house as the setting sun heightened their sense of loss.

Most people at the vigil, organised by Takshila Institute, were enraged at the party’s inability to unmask and bring her murderers to justice.

“It is a shame,” said activist Tahira Abdullah. “Even after five years those who assassinated Benazir Bhutto still roam freely.”

Framed between melting candles and BB’s portrait, as Marvi Sarmad watched Bilawal Bhutto on the projector screen, her eyes welling up, she said quietly, “We don’t realise what we have lost.”

Sardar Rehman and his two friends stood above the makeshift memorial with their placards tucked inside their jackets. After four decades of support for the PPP, the men said the party’s “struggle would continue through its supporters.”

Paper lanterns were released in the caerulean sky, which marked both, a sense of loss and the dawning of a new year and a new beginning.



Quran khawani at PPP Central Secretariat

While the PPP’s senior leaders hogged the limelight in Garhi Khuda Bakhsh, dozens of party workers gathered at the PPP Central Secretariat in the posh F-6 sector of the capital for Quran Khawani and Dua. Some silently wept during the prayer. “I feel her loss every single day, I had personally met her on many occasions,” said Aseeba Khatoon as she prepared to recite the Quran.

PPP Islamabad District chapter general secretary Abid Hassan quoted party’s founding chairman Zulfikar Ali Bhutto as saying he would rather die a martyr than live like a coward. Not only did he prove it but so did his great daughter and other family members, he added.

Party worker Syed Bukhari lamented the loss of Benazir as the biggest blow to the party. “She knew she would be killed, yet she stayed true to herself, her party and her principles.”

Mourners unable to control their emotions on the slain premier’s death anniversary on Thursday. Candlelight vigils, Quran khwani held in the twin cities. PHOTO: MUHAMMAD JAVAID, MYRA IQBAL/EXPRESS

After the prayer, charged party workers with emotion chanted slogans.

“I cannot even begin to explain to you the trauma I feel even today when I think of the day she [Benazir] was assassinated. It breaks my heart. I have been associated with this party for the past 24 years but this was our biggest loss,” said a teary-eyed People’s Labour Bureau Secretary Qasida Murtaza clad in black.

SZABIST students pay tribute

Students paid tribute to assassinated premier Benazir Bhutto at the Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Institute of Science & Technology (SZABIST), according to a press release. Quran khawani was held and candles were lit in memory of the slain leader.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 28^th, 2012.