KARACHI: Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP) Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari issued a message on 15th anniversary of Karsaz tragedy in which scores of party activists lost their lives. Tragic incident happened on October 18, 2007 when scores of PPP’s activists and followers were killed in a twin bombing at former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto’s homecoming rally on Shahrah-e-Faisal. In his message, Bilawal said, “15 years ago Karsaz was bathed in blood of our martyrs. 177 lives lost to protect our inalienable democratic rights.”

“We have always paid heaviest price to restore democracy in Pakistan. Those who wish to derail it should know will not allow sacrifices to be in vain.” PPP did not hold its traditional public meeting in Karachi to mark anniversary of Karsaz bombing. Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah and PPP leaders visited martyrs’ monument at Karsaz to lay floral wreath and offered fateha. Former President and PPP co-Chairperson Asif Ali Zardari also issued message and said that PPP fulfilled mission of its great leader Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto.

He said PPP restored 1973 Constitution in its original form, hoisted national flag in Swat, gave autonomy to provinces and gave identity to people of Gilgit-Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Poor and deserving women were made partakers in society through Benazir Income Support Programme. 18th Amendment guarantees country’s survival and integrity, he added. Zardari said our struggle is for employment of youth, economic prosperity and social justice. PPP completed Benazir Bhutto’s mission by giving power back to Parliament that was stolen by dictators.

Paying homage to martyrs of Karsaz tragedy, Zardari said that their bravery, loyalty and steadfastness is exemplary. “There is no other example of such a fearless act in political history, in which people sacrificed their lives to protect their great leader,” he added.

Zardari said that democracy in country today was owed to blood of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto and thousands of courageous party activists.

Published in The Daily National Courier, October, 19 2022

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