March 25, 2008	Tuesday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 16, 1429

MULTAN, March 24: Pakis-tan People’s Party workers celebrated the victory of Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani with fireworks display and holding rallies and distributing sweets in various city areas here on Monday evening.

Waving party flags, holding portraits of Benazir Bhutto, Yousaf Raza Gilani and shouting slogans for late founder of the party Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, the workers started the celebration even before the announcement of result.

Muhammad Arshad a shopkeeper of Cantonment Bazaar said it was a great victory, especially for the residents of Multan, the hometown of the newly-elected premier.

He said the people had played their role, and now it was leaders’ job to strengthen the democracy, uphold supremacy of law and independence of the judiciary.

An aged PPP worker, Baba Safdar, who was one of the participants of a rally held in Cantonment Bazaar said it was a great honour for the people of Multan that their representative had become the prime minister.

He said now it was the responsibility of Mr Gilani to continue the mission of late Benazir Bhutto to serve the people.

Sweets were distributed in Hussain Agahi Bazaar, Cantonment Bazaar, Harram Gate, Pak Gate, Daulat gate, Gulgasht Colony, Chungi No.14, 8, 9 and 6, Tariqabad, Soraj Miani and many other areas.

TOBA TEK SINGH: Election of Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani as premier also stirred celebration in Sindhlianwali, hometown of Mr Gilani’s in-laws.

Mr Gilani is son-in-law of former PML senator late Pir Israr Hussain Shah and brother-in-law of former PML MPA Pir Ibrar Shah.

As soon as electronic media announced Mr Gilani’s victory, scores of people, including devotees of Darbar Qutbia, exploded crackers and displayed fireworks to express jubilation.

With breaking of the news, small processions from various parts of the district started reaching the Darbar to felicitate Pir Ibrar Shah and his son Pir Ali Baba Shah for Mr Gilani’s win.

However, both were not available as they had gone to Karachi to attend the wedding of Mr Gilani’s son.