Bilawal’s absence dowses spirit of PPP jiyalas

A large number of PPP supporters gathered at Garhi Khuda Bux for traditional prayers.

SUKKUR: A large number of men and women gathered at Garhi Khuda Bux on Saturday to mark the seventh death anniversary of Benazir Bhutto. However, most of them were disappointed that their late leader’s son, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, was absent.

“I am upset that Bilawal is not here,” said a woman from Lyari, Amina. “But it does not matter who comes. We were always jiyalas of Benazir and we will remain that way.” Amina added that Lyari, which is the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) stronghold in Karachi, will always stay with the PPP.

Other workers also shared similar opinions. “Bilawal’s face reminds us of Mohtarma [Benazir] and we miss him today,” said Ali Hassan Jagirani, who came from Khairpur.

Shoukat Ali, who had come from Tando Allahyar, also said that they felt that Mohtarma had come alive every time they looked at Bilawal. “Today, he is not here and we don’t feel good about this,” he said, adding that they will continue to visit Garhi Khuda Bux.

The jalsa, which was scheduled to start at 2pm, kicked off well after 4pm as attendance was thin and the organisers wanted to wait for the central leadership to take to the stage. The workers who had been waiting since morning could not help but throw themselves at the truck that carried the food. The langar is a traditional part of the death anniversary annual event at Garhi Khuda Bux.

There were two convoys, comprising around 2,000 to 2,500 men, who came from Ghotki. They were led by ministers, Ali Nawaz and Jam Mehtab Dahar. A convoy carrying 1,000 to 1,200 party workers including women was led by MNA Aijaz Jakhrani from Jacobabad. From Khairpur, more than 1,000 people were led by MNAs Nafisa Shah and Nawab Wassan and former MNA Javed Shah Jillani.

The organisers had placed strict security measures at the venue. More than 7,000 policemen and police commandos were deployed inside and outside the venue. A large number of Rangers personnel were also standing outside the mausoleum.

Twelve walk-through gates were installed at the entrance of the mazaar. More than 20 SSPs and SPs from various districts of Sindh were managing the security at Garhi Khuda Bux and Naudero House. Bomb disposal squads were also called in to give clearance before the jalsa started.

Leaders talk

As the PPP leaders arrived in Sukkur for the death anniversary, they spoke to the media. Syed Khursheed Shah, the leader of opposition in the National Assembly, said there is no need for military courts if the civil courts start disposing cases quickly.

He pointed out that the key accused in the Benazir murder case, Baitullah Mahsud, has already been killed, while the remaining will be tried in military courts. The mandate of the military courts will be confined to terrorists and their supporters alone and a parliamentary committee will keep an eye on them, he added.

Talking about Benazir’s political wisdom, Shah said, she had foreseen today’s condition 10 years ago and had decided to return to Pakistan.

The estranged PPP president, Makhdoom Amin Fahim, also attended the anniversary and insisted that he did not have any differences with the party. “If there is something wrong, I will raise my voice against it within the party,” he said, adding that he did not know why Bilawal was not attending the death anniversary.

Meanwhile, PPP general secretary Jahangir Badar said Bilawal’s absence was part of the party policy. Gilgit-Baltistan chief minister Mehdi Shah said there are no differences between Asif Ali Zardari and Bilawal. Misunderstandings often occur among blood relations and relatives and they are easily sorted out, he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 28^th, 2014.