In a rare display of unity, various political parties including the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and the Awami National Party (ANP), set aside their differences to participate in a massive rally staged by the ruling Pakistan People’s Party on Saturday in a bid to restore peace in the city.
The Pakistan Muslim League-Functional (PML-F), the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) and the Sunni Tehreek (ST) also participated in the rally, which was a part of the PPP-led Sindh government’s campaign titled ‘Amn Ka Safar’.
The participants of the rally marched from the Jehangir Kothari Parade to the Teen Talwar in Clifton.
The rally was led by PPP ministers Sharjeel Inam Memon, Mukesh Kumar Chawla and Zahid Bhurgari, Sindh Assembly Deputy Speaker Shehla Raza, MQM’s leader of the opposition in the Sindh Assembly Raza Haroon, Nasreen Jalil, MNA Khushbakht Shujaat, PML-F’s minister Jam Madad Ali and Imtiaz Shaikh.
The rally was largely attended as youngsters holding white and party flags gathered at the Jahangir Kothari parade. The PML-F and MQM set up their camps at the Clifton underpass and the Teen Talwar, respectively.
Speaking on the occasion, Memon said that the participants of the rally have proved that the people of Sindh want peace.
“It has also proved that peace can be maintained through good relations between political parties. This rally will open new ways for peace in the city. Peace will bring development in the country – a dream of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto,” he added.
MQM’s Nasreen Jalil said that the flag of peace is a success for all. “Terrorists want to destabilise the country. It is possible that the MQM may rejoin the government,” she added.
PML-F’s Jam Madad said that people of Sindh, throughout history, have remained the ambassadors of peace across the world. “The rally sends across the message to the people of Sindh that they should forget all differences and maintain peace in Karachi,” he added.
PPP’s Sindh Assembly Deputy Speaker Shehla Raza said that her party’s political cooperation with MQM will continue.
Oozing goodwill, Amn Ka Safar rally pulls off the impossible
