Pakistan

Stop promoting Benazir!

Rana Tanveer April 14, 2010

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) adjourned the hearing of further arguments regarding a petition challenging the construction of a Benazir Bhutto monument in Rawalpindi or elsewhere from public funds.

The petitioner advocate Syed Feroz Shah Gillani said that Benazir Bhutto could not be declared a national hero as she was involved in several cases of corruption and had been an absconder in many cases. He said that the Pakistan peoples party (PPP) should not be allowed to construct monuments for its leader with money taken from the public exchequer.

Representing the federal government, deputy attorney general Naveed Inayat Malik was irked by the petitioner’s arguments and demanded that Gillani take back his remarks regarding Benazir Bhutto.

At this, justice Ijaz Ahmad Chaudhry remarked, “The court is not the proper forum to hold debate regarding the stature of any political leader. That should be debated in the parliament”. Chaudhry also said that since the PPP was a major political party it could spend its own money on the construction of such monuments.

The judge adjourned further hearing of the petition till May 6, 2010. In his petition, Gillani also requested that the court remove the names of politicians including Ms Bhutto from national buildings such as the Islamabad international airport, hospitals, government and semi-government departments and institutions.

He said that Benazir Bhutto was never recognised as an undisputed leader of the country nor attained the status of a national hero. Gillani said that Benazir never followed ethical and democratic principles as she had admitted in her book ‘Reconciliation’ that she struck a deal with former dictator Pervez Musharraf.

He said that both her governments were dismissed on charges of gross corruption and incompetency. “Such a leader can not be regarded as a national hero,” he said.

COMMENTS (12)

Pakistan's well-wisher | 13 years ago | Reply All the people who are complaining should get a life. The PPP is the ruling party of this country. You people voted for the party so that they could come in power. You people therefore chose Mr Zardari. As they say - "What you sow, you shall reap." Pakistanis are very lacking when it comes to this. First, they do, and then they cry. This is what has made us such a backward third-world society. Regards, Pakistan's well-wisher

Masood | 14 years ago | Reply Around the world it clearly known that PPP and Mr 10% are not in favor of Pakistan. First time Pakistani ministry of exterior had major set back during B.Nazir Era and could not recover. why Pakistani nation can not perceive this fact.

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Amjad | 14 years ago | Reply The national exchequer is properity of the over 16 crore nation of Pakistan, it should spend on national development and welfare of the masses. No for portraying and projecting, the politicians as hero through national kitty.

Munir Raja | 14 years ago | Reply This is the irony of this country that number of heroes is growing more than the masses (exaggerated). Its not PPP only, any party coming in power changes the names of national/public buildings,parks and places in the name of their leaders, what ever their character may be. Our able legislators must pass the law encompassing following:- All previous names of dubious heroes should be removed and the real names of those entities be restored. No person, what so ever, be dubbed as hero unless ratified by the National assembly. Construction of any monument in memory of any so called hero or changing the name of any national/public buuilding, park or place be validated by the National Assembly and Senate,atleast with 65% mahority. We are sick of the names of Nawaz Sharif Park, Benazir International Airport etc. yes! If political parties are so keen to make monuments of their leaders, they may do so at pary's expense but not out of Govt funds.

Rana Taimoor | 14 years ago | Reply Yes indeed, she does not fall into the same category as that of MA Jinnah or L.A. Khan etc. People are getting fedup by the PPP leaders / Political workers by excessive use of her name. They should stop living in the past and should face the bitter today and prepare themseleves for a harsh tommorrow.

anwaarahmad | 14 years ago | Reply It is the leadership of PPP who is giving opportunity to look upon the biased judiciary on the plea of 3rd rate lawyer to decide the stature of BENAZIR BHUTTO,a world class leader.They should have spent their own resources for such monument.Like wise they should not overplay the name of B.B to cover the ineffeciency of its ministers.

anwar | 14 years ago | Reply benazir can never be the national hero. she has been the disputed leader like his father. if there is need to build a monument then it should be of national heros like liaquat ali khan,abdul rab nishter .

nasim ahmed | 14 years ago | Reply Being a prime minister does not mean national hero,besides her life is marred with corruption and contraversies.we should also remember that elections are never fare in Pakistan as such winning elections dont make u a national hero.Nation as a whole must accept and declare u a hero before that any public money spent on such things in my opinion is total waste and insult to our nation which is suffering from all sort of problems,no power,water,jobs etc.

Hayat | 14 years ago | Reply If PPP wants to build monuments, they should spend their own money. Stop using State's money for promoting their own leaders.

Anna | 14 years ago | Reply True Indeed..! But I really dont mean to stop promoting Banazir. My point is she cant be declared as national hero. In other context naming the buildings then it's not justified. If it's the case then Nawaz-sahrif park name should be renamed removing Nawaz sharif as prefix. He isnt National hero on the same basis as does Benazir.

Anna | 14 years ago | Reply True Indeed..!

adnan | 14 years ago | Reply Someone is finally talking sense. I don't think we can afford another national hero.

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