- As PPP leaders, jiyalas observe Benazir Bhutto’s seventh death anniversary across country, Zardari says there are no ‘good or bad Taliban’, rubbishes ‘rivals’ propaganda’ of rift between him and PPP chief Bilawal
- Khurshid Shah says BB’s assassins will be tried in military court
Former president and Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP) Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari said Saturday that his party is unable to comprehend the much-talked-about difference between “good and bad Taliban”, adding that if the authorities at that time had taken notice of the carnage of PPP’s jiyalas and the assassination of Benazir Bhutto in 2007, the Peshawar tragedy would not have come to pass.
Regarding the decision made after the Peshawar massacre to set up special courts manned by army officials to try hardened criminals, Zardari said his party would not allow the “misuse” of these courts. “We will sign the document of agreement to these courts on the condition that these special courts are not used against civilians, politicians or journalists.”
Zardari advised Prime Minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif to exercise caution while setting up military courts, warning that “tomorrow these courts might put him (Zardari) and Sharif behind bars”.
“Last time when military courts were enacted, we were all put in jails,” noted Zardari.
Delivering an impassioned speech at the seventh death anniversary of former twice premier Benazir Bhutto, Zardari quelled “rumours” of rifts between him and his son PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, calling it “propaganda by the rivals of PPP”.
Moreover, he also denied reports that senior party leader Makhdoom Amin Fahim was angry with the decisions of the party leadership, saying “Amin Fahim will never betray PPP.”
PPP OBSERVES BB’S SEVENTH DEATH ANNIVERSARY:
On the occasion, the PPP leaders and workers across the country observed the seventh death anniversary of the party’s slain leader with great reverence on Saturday and paid tribute to her services to the country.
Hordes of PPP jiyalas thronged to the mausoleum of their leader at Garhi Khuda Bakhsh to offer fateha.
Zardari, Benazir’s daughter Bakhtawar Bhutto, PPP leaders Amin Fahim, Rehman Malik, Sherry Rehman Qamar Zaman Kaira, Naveed Qamar, Khursheed Shah, Manzoor Watto, Farhatullah Babar, Jahangir Badar, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) President Sardar Muhammad Yaqoob Khan, AJK PM Abdul Majeed, Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Minister Syed Mehdi Shah, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Senate Chairman Syed Nayyar Bukhari, Sindh Assembly Speaker Agha Siraj Khan Durrani, PPP senators and provincial ministers also visited the graves of Benazir, Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and others at Garhi Khuda Bakhsh. They placed floral wreaths at the grave and offered fateha.
Speaking on the occasion, the PPP leaders reiterated their pledge to carry forward the mission for which Benazir had laid down her life, adding that democracy had returned to the country because of her. The PPP leaders also resolved to work for the betterment of the poor.
The anniversary started off with a mushaira. Prominent poets from Sindh, Punjab and other parts of the country paid tribute to Shaheed Benazir with their poetry.
A two-minute silence was also observed.
District Larkana People’s Doctors Forum (PDF), District Health Department and CMC Hospital established free medical camps to provide medical assistance to the participants of the death anniversary.
Ambulances and fire tenders were also deployed and first aid camps were set up.
Sindh Inspector General Police (IGP) Ghulam Hyder Jamali established a base camp in Naudero to monitor the security arrangements. A heavy contingent of law enforcement agencies was also deployed to ensure security.
Moreover, PPP workers and leaders also held a function at Liaquat Bagh in Rawalpindi where Benazir was assassinated by terrorists. They offered fateha and showered petals at the site.
Meetings were also held at district, divisional and provincial headquarters of the PPP to pay homage to the slain leader
Moreover, PPP (Women Wing) and senior party workers arranged Quran khawani and fateha khawani in Hyderabad. The party workers also staged demonstration in front of Hyderabad Press Club and demanded the arrest of those involved in assassination of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto.
The death anniversary of PPP’s Benazir was also observed with solemnity in Sialkot. A quran khawani was also held in Sialkot, Daska, Sambrial, Uggoki, Pasrur, Badiana, Chawinda and surrounding areas for the slain PPP leader.
A larger number of the party workers including local PPP leaders Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan, Tahir Mehmood Hundali, PPP Sialkot District President Malik Tahir Akhtar Awan, Advocate Khawaja Awais Mushtaq, Mushtaq Ahmed Mughal, Muhammad Yousaf Khilji and Chaudhry Zahid Bashir attended special prayers held for the eternal peace of the departed soul. They paid rich tributes to Bhutto for her sacrifice for the sake of democracy in the country.
Later, addressing the party workers, PPP stalwart and former federal information minister Dr Firdous said that PPP will continue its struggle for sustaining democracy, independence of judiciary and the rule of law.
‘BB’S ASSASSINS TO BE TRIED IN MILITARY COURT’:
In the meanwhile, opposition leader in the National Assembly Syed Khursheed Shah said Saturday that the killers of former premier Benazir would be tried in military courts.
Talking to media on the occasion of Benazir’s death anniversary, Shah said that PPP agreed to the decision to form military courts “with a heavy heart”.
SECURITY THREAT TO BILAWAL:
Previously, speaking at a press conference at Larkana Press Club PPP Central Information Secretary Sherry Rehman said that PPP Chairman Bilwal would not attend the seventh death anniversary of his mother, “because of security threats”.
Flanked by Jamil Soomro and Fida Dhakan, she said that earlier it was Bilawal’s health issue that had prevented him from coming back but “it was now resolved”. She said that proposed military courts to try hardened terrorists “would not be above the Constitution”.