Qalandari
Banned
By Riaz Ali Toori
On one hand, December 27, 2007, was a tragic day in the history of Pakistan for the workers of Pakistan People’s Party; on the other, December 27, 2012, became a day of joy, harmony and reparations for them. Forgetting their wounds, they chanted in favour of the young Bilawal Bhutto Zardari
They were thrilled and poignant, animated and energised when they found Bhutto Junior among them as their leader. Young Bhutto has arrived, the dark clouds have moved out, the workers of PPP are buoyant, said an old worker of PPP.
Despite the fact that Asif Ali Zardari has done a lot very earnestly too and beyond doubt he did what Shaheed Benazir Bhutto had dreamed of, yet PPP workers were yearning impatiently for the son and the heir of their leader Shaheed Mohtarama Benazir Bhutto.
Today, Bilawal has acquired that position and the PPP workers are feeling amongst them the presence of a living Bhutto, a living image of his mother, Shaheed Benazir Bhutto.
The exhilaration on the face of President Asif Ali Zardari was evident when Bilawal Bhutto Zardari was delivering his historical speech. Zardari had introduced an adolescent Bhutto some years back but here, speaking on the stage was a mature young man, capable of leading the nation successfully, able to face conspiracies and challenge his oppressors. Zardari was fraught with pride with a gorgeous smile of satisfaction spread over his face. He saved PPP from disintegration and accomplished his mission effectively. He faithfully kept up the Buttos’ legacy and confidence of the workers of PPP allowing no external force to hurt and harm it.
From suffocating jails to the worse forms of physical and mental torture, Asif Ali Zardari endured every hindrance daringly in his love for PPP and the Bhuttos. Today, he has emerged victorious and his enemies stand defeated. Democracy won and conspiracies defeated.
On December 27, Asif Ali Zardari, a dear part of Benazir’s heart as Bilawal referred to him in his speech, was the triumphant and bravest man in Pakistan who not only saved his party, democracy and this country despite the existence of so many plots. He competently manoeuvred the transition of PPP and proved to be the real legatee of Bhutto.
No duality, no cowardice, no hesitation and no compromise was visible in the speech of Bilawal – the junior Bhutto. Bilawal in his speech was audacious, valiant, and heroic, poised and had a firm hold on his words and language with an accent, style and wisdom, reminiscent of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto. He was speaking from his heart the language of Shaheed ZA Bhutto, Shaheed Benazir Bhutto and was translating the will of millions of PPP workers.
I saw tears of glee, elation and faith in the eyes of PPP’s workers. The old PPP’s workers were sanguine for an unblemished future of Pakistan where young Bhutto would serve the poor subjugated people of Pakistan and lead Pakistan towards prosperity, affluence, modernism and welfare of the people. Watching TV, listening to Bilawal’s historical speech, my father – an old Jayala of PPP said, “By God, Bilawal is not different from both his mother and Shaheed Bhutto, in terms of physique, speech, elegance and determination.”
Just like his brave mother, Bilawal Bhutto is not scared of his enemies and terrorists. He boldly challenged their nefarious aims. Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, in a very emotional tone dared the viciousness of terrorists and invited all democratic, secular and peace-loving Pakistanis to join him in his resolve to end terrorism and make Pakistan a heavenly abode for all.
Bilawal doesn’t forget the nation’s martyrs and those of his party. He lauded Bilour, declaring that if one Bilour is martyred many more Bilours would appear. If one Malala is hit, there would be many more Malalas to fight for their rights. This caravan of martyrs cannot be stopped and frightened by cowardice attacks on their lives.
Bilawal Bhutto once again reiterated his strapping tenacity against extremism and terrorism that is very atypical in our contemporary political stalwarts. Bilawal said terrorists snatched Shaheed Bashir Bilour, Lion of Punjab (Salmaan Taseer) and Shehbaz Bhatti from us but that would not force us to bow down to them. Showing his inherent bravery, young Bhutto said that he and his party would not back out or cower in silence in the face of terrorism and extremism.
Bilwal Bhutto Zardari guaranteed that he would not ditch party workers and would love them just like his grandfather and mother. Appreciating his workers, he said that the people were “the source of power” and he understood their problems very well. Pointing towards their grievances, Bilawal said that under Benazir Income Support Programme, the needs of the people were being fulfilled and Waseela-e-Haq was initiated to offer financial support to the poor, and Waseela-e-Rozgar to train people and Waseela-e-Sehat to take care of the health problems and Waseela-e-Taleem to educate the oppressed sections of our society. These were all people-friendly initiations taken by the government of PPP in pursuance of the Shaheed Benazir Bhutto’s visionary acumen.
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari rejected the politics of hate and revenge, saying that we wanted to take along all the parties and employing the policy of reconciliation to ensure development, advancement and prosperity of Pakistan.
Elaborating his father’s policy of reconciliation, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that this strategy stood established as the best weapon to take revenge. He stressed that they wanted to vehemently work for the growth and prosperity of the country.
Understanding well the pessimistic politics by some elements of Pakistan, Bilawal said that such elements could harm the country and its democratic process. He invited all the political democratic forces of the country to come forward to work together so that they could together change the direction of the winds.
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has appeared on the political horizon of Pakistan at a time when it is stained with blood of martyrs and confronted with multiple challenges. Daily, innocent people, police and brave soldiers of our armed forces are rendering sacrifices; students while going to their schools are assaulted, Shias are under attack, minorities are being harassed, and the secular forces of the country are being accused openly of being the enemies of Pakistan. And, we see that many among our political leadership are either showing sympathies with terrorists or lacking the courage to defy them for their brutality.
In such a situation, only the leadership having nerves, valour, vision and wisdom can lead the nation towards peace, development, democracy and prosperity.
In his first ever public speech, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari showed his resolve towards solution of each and every problem of Pakistan. However, by themselves, Bilawal and PPP can give countless sacrifices but cannot solve the multi dimensional problems. Until we vow together not to give our hands in the hands of those who are either cowards or compromising on terrorism and extremism, we cannot bring out Pakistan from the quagmire of terrorism and extremism, and socio-economic political issues.
The writer is a political activist, a citizen of the Tribal Areas and an expert on FATA. He can be reached on [email protected] and on twitter @RiazToori
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2013\01\03\story_3-1-2013_pg7_17
They were thrilled and poignant, animated and energised when they found Bhutto Junior among them as their leader. Young Bhutto has arrived, the dark clouds have moved out, the workers of PPP are buoyant, said an old worker of PPP.
Despite the fact that Asif Ali Zardari has done a lot very earnestly too and beyond doubt he did what Shaheed Benazir Bhutto had dreamed of, yet PPP workers were yearning impatiently for the son and the heir of their leader Shaheed Mohtarama Benazir Bhutto.
Today, Bilawal has acquired that position and the PPP workers are feeling amongst them the presence of a living Bhutto, a living image of his mother, Shaheed Benazir Bhutto.
The exhilaration on the face of President Asif Ali Zardari was evident when Bilawal Bhutto Zardari was delivering his historical speech. Zardari had introduced an adolescent Bhutto some years back but here, speaking on the stage was a mature young man, capable of leading the nation successfully, able to face conspiracies and challenge his oppressors. Zardari was fraught with pride with a gorgeous smile of satisfaction spread over his face. He saved PPP from disintegration and accomplished his mission effectively. He faithfully kept up the Buttos’ legacy and confidence of the workers of PPP allowing no external force to hurt and harm it.
From suffocating jails to the worse forms of physical and mental torture, Asif Ali Zardari endured every hindrance daringly in his love for PPP and the Bhuttos. Today, he has emerged victorious and his enemies stand defeated. Democracy won and conspiracies defeated.
On December 27, Asif Ali Zardari, a dear part of Benazir’s heart as Bilawal referred to him in his speech, was the triumphant and bravest man in Pakistan who not only saved his party, democracy and this country despite the existence of so many plots. He competently manoeuvred the transition of PPP and proved to be the real legatee of Bhutto.
No duality, no cowardice, no hesitation and no compromise was visible in the speech of Bilawal – the junior Bhutto. Bilawal in his speech was audacious, valiant, and heroic, poised and had a firm hold on his words and language with an accent, style and wisdom, reminiscent of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto. He was speaking from his heart the language of Shaheed ZA Bhutto, Shaheed Benazir Bhutto and was translating the will of millions of PPP workers.
I saw tears of glee, elation and faith in the eyes of PPP’s workers. The old PPP’s workers were sanguine for an unblemished future of Pakistan where young Bhutto would serve the poor subjugated people of Pakistan and lead Pakistan towards prosperity, affluence, modernism and welfare of the people. Watching TV, listening to Bilawal’s historical speech, my father – an old Jayala of PPP said, “By God, Bilawal is not different from both his mother and Shaheed Bhutto, in terms of physique, speech, elegance and determination.”
Just like his brave mother, Bilawal Bhutto is not scared of his enemies and terrorists. He boldly challenged their nefarious aims. Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, in a very emotional tone dared the viciousness of terrorists and invited all democratic, secular and peace-loving Pakistanis to join him in his resolve to end terrorism and make Pakistan a heavenly abode for all.
Bilawal doesn’t forget the nation’s martyrs and those of his party. He lauded Bilour, declaring that if one Bilour is martyred many more Bilours would appear. If one Malala is hit, there would be many more Malalas to fight for their rights. This caravan of martyrs cannot be stopped and frightened by cowardice attacks on their lives.
Bilawal Bhutto once again reiterated his strapping tenacity against extremism and terrorism that is very atypical in our contemporary political stalwarts. Bilawal said terrorists snatched Shaheed Bashir Bilour, Lion of Punjab (Salmaan Taseer) and Shehbaz Bhatti from us but that would not force us to bow down to them. Showing his inherent bravery, young Bhutto said that he and his party would not back out or cower in silence in the face of terrorism and extremism.
Bilwal Bhutto Zardari guaranteed that he would not ditch party workers and would love them just like his grandfather and mother. Appreciating his workers, he said that the people were “the source of power” and he understood their problems very well. Pointing towards their grievances, Bilawal said that under Benazir Income Support Programme, the needs of the people were being fulfilled and Waseela-e-Haq was initiated to offer financial support to the poor, and Waseela-e-Rozgar to train people and Waseela-e-Sehat to take care of the health problems and Waseela-e-Taleem to educate the oppressed sections of our society. These were all people-friendly initiations taken by the government of PPP in pursuance of the Shaheed Benazir Bhutto’s visionary acumen.
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari rejected the politics of hate and revenge, saying that we wanted to take along all the parties and employing the policy of reconciliation to ensure development, advancement and prosperity of Pakistan.
Elaborating his father’s policy of reconciliation, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that this strategy stood established as the best weapon to take revenge. He stressed that they wanted to vehemently work for the growth and prosperity of the country.
Understanding well the pessimistic politics by some elements of Pakistan, Bilawal said that such elements could harm the country and its democratic process. He invited all the political democratic forces of the country to come forward to work together so that they could together change the direction of the winds.
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has appeared on the political horizon of Pakistan at a time when it is stained with blood of martyrs and confronted with multiple challenges. Daily, innocent people, police and brave soldiers of our armed forces are rendering sacrifices; students while going to their schools are assaulted, Shias are under attack, minorities are being harassed, and the secular forces of the country are being accused openly of being the enemies of Pakistan. And, we see that many among our political leadership are either showing sympathies with terrorists or lacking the courage to defy them for their brutality.
In such a situation, only the leadership having nerves, valour, vision and wisdom can lead the nation towards peace, development, democracy and prosperity.
In his first ever public speech, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari showed his resolve towards solution of each and every problem of Pakistan. However, by themselves, Bilawal and PPP can give countless sacrifices but cannot solve the multi dimensional problems. Until we vow together not to give our hands in the hands of those who are either cowards or compromising on terrorism and extremism, we cannot bring out Pakistan from the quagmire of terrorism and extremism, and socio-economic political issues.
The writer is a political activist, a citizen of the Tribal Areas and an expert on FATA. He can be reached on [email protected] and on twitter @RiazToori
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2013\01\03\story_3-1-2013_pg7_17
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