KARACHI: Alternative arrangements for Asif’s welcome: PPP
By Our Reporter
KARACHI, April 14: In an apparent bid to prevent activists of the Pakistan People’s Party from converging on Lahore on Saturday to welcome Asif Ali Zardari on his return home, the Pakistan Railway has revoked bookings for ferrying the activists from Sukkur, Mirpurkhas and other cities to Lahore. This was claimed by Secretary-General of the Sindh PPP Nafees Siddiqui while addressing a news conference at the Karachi Press Club on Thursday. He castigated the government for, what he called, the anti-people and anti-democratic measures, including massive arrest and harassment of political opponents.
Mr Siddiqui expressed resentment over the railway authorities’ attitude, pointing out that in spite of concurrence and an advance payment having been made, the bookings were cancelled. At the same time, he deplored, police and other law enforcement agencies had resorted to a massive crackdown on PPP activists. Moreover, he added, relatives of the activists were being subjected to harassment and intimidation by police during raids on their houses.
He alleged that the government was deliberately trying to create an atmosphere of confrontation, and warned that only the government would be responsible if such a situation did arise.
Mr Siddiqui said that Lahore reception would symbolize the PPP’s fight against oppressive system and poor man’s struggle that had been given a new and tangible meaning by Zulfikar Ali Bhutto whose slogan of Roti, Kapra Aur Makan was still valid and relevant. Such measures reflected the government’s nervousness and exposed the hollowness of its claim of commitment to democratic dispensation and respect for fundamental rights enshrined in the constitution.
He said that despite all obstructions and strong arm tactics, PPP activists would reach Lahore through any available means transportation.
Mr Siddiqui claimed that under the government’s directives, the railway authorities had cancelled all bookings viz-a-viz Lahore-bound trains, which included Awam Express, Allama Iqbal Express, Tezgam and Karachi Express. Similarly, he added, transporters had also been forced by the concerned administrations to cancel booking of thousands of vehicles across the country, especially in Punjab and Sindh. The government had also cancelled the leaves of government employees for April 15 and 16 to ensure that lovers of Bhutto did not participate in the Lahore welcome.
“It appears as if the regime is faced with a tsunami-like situation and is acting as low as it perceives every person travelling to Punjab as a ‘Jiyala’ on way to Lahore to welcome Asif Zardari,” said the PPP leader.
ADVISORY: The Karachi division of PPP has advised all the party workers having valid tickets/reservations for Lahore-bound trains to reach the Cantonment Station as alternative arrangements had been made for the journey.
In an announcement, the local leaders, Rashid Rabbani and Rafiq Engineer, said that alternative arrangements made by the party would render cancellation of the bookings ineffective as the government’s attempts to block PPP workers’ journey to Lahore would be foiled.
Shazia Marri, a leader of PPP’s women wing, told a news conference on Thursday that there was an unprecedented enthusiasm among the party’s women workers as 4,000 to 5,000 women were expected to travel to Lahore only from Sindh. Elaborate arrangements had been made by the PPP’s district level leadership across Sindh to ensure comfortable travel and accommodation for the women workers, she observed.
Referring to the alleged removal of hoardings put up by the party; crackdown on workers and even arrests from the meetings being held in walled compounds; imposition of Section-144; and other measures taken by the Punjab government to prevent people from reaching the Lahore Airport to welcome Asif Zardari, she said that Supreme Court should take suo motu notice of the illegal and extra-judicial acts by the chief minister of that province and the concerned administrations.
