Zoo closed for public without prior notice during Aseefa’s visit
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KARACHI: Aseefa Bhutto-Zardari, the youngest daughter of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto and co-chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Asif Ali Zardari, on Tuesday visited the Karachi zoological gardens that was closed for other visitors without any prior notice.
It was a second outing within a week by Ms Bhutto-Zardari as a few days ago she paid a visit to SOS Children’s Village, home of abandoned, destitute and orphaned children.
While a statement issued by Bilawal House said that during the visit Ms Bhutto-Zardari was “hailed by the visiting children and their families in zoo and [she] intermingled with them,” the situation was quite different at the zoo, which had been closed before her arrival.
A police official said: “The garden was closed before the arrival of Ms Bhutto-Zardari. Even the media was not allowed to cover or record her visit. She remained here for over an hour and during that time no one was allowed to enter the zoo.”
The Bilawal House statement added that Ms Bhutto-Zardari visited the city zoo to personally observe the conditions of animals following adverse reports in the media about the health of certain caged species.
“She also inquired from the management of the zoo after health conditions of the animals and stressed that special care be given to feeding and health of the animals.
“The gates of Zoological Gardens remained open during the visit of Aseefa Bhutto-Zardari and several children and families [approached her] to [have] group photos with her,” said the statement.
Published in Dawn, July 8th, 2015
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Comments (52) Closed
Jul 08, 2015 06:38am
That's the real face of incompetent government of Sindh. Can't even manage a zoo!
Why general public wasn't allowed to visit zoo during that hour? The movements of political figures are also creating as much trouble as their presence in the parliaments.
Shame on you politicians of Sindh.
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Jul 08, 2015 07:17am
Amazing! No one from PPP visited dying Karachiites in recent heat wave. This is not taking anything away from plight of animals and to address their sufferings too. It just shows the lack of interest the royals of Pakistan have for helpless souls like us. After all why would they care! They get votes regardless of our daily humiliation and use the power we give them to serve their family, personal and political objectives and do corruption of highest order too along the way.
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Jul 08, 2015 07:20am
Get rid of this VIP culture which ruined Pakistan. Every citizen of Pakistan has equal rights. Why special treatment to Aseffa.
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Jul 08, 2015 07:22am
maybe her visit will bring some good things for the animals surviving in appalling conditions.
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Jul 08, 2015 07:25am
"It was a second outing within a week by Ms Bhutto-Zardari " - awesome line
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Jul 08, 2015 08:10am
It is good to visit animals and ask questions on their well being; alas, no courtesy visit to hospitals full of heat strokes.
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Jul 08, 2015 08:12am
Ms. Aseefa, please also inquire from Government Officials regarding the situation of common people of Sindh.
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Jul 08, 2015 08:15am
Keep it open for VIP's only.
Close it for public, who fund everything but make wrong choices in elections.
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Jul 08, 2015 08:36am
Funny justification - people are dying and here we are to inquire about the animal's well being; pls try to stop fooling the innocent citizens......
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Jul 08, 2015 09:12am
Such persons should visit the zoo during the time it is closed for public instead of disturbing public recreation.
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Jul 08, 2015 09:13am
@Syed Ali
You are too true, Sir.
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Jul 08, 2015 09:23am
Please inquire about the diet of the Hockey players also...
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Jul 08, 2015 09:32am
This shows how VIP culture is destroying Pakistan. She does not hold any government position even. She and her family should be made to wait in lines like rest of the public.
No more VIP culture please!
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Jul 08, 2015 09:38am
@Dija - Guys, Please bear in mind that animals and insect are imperative for the survival of mankind.
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Jul 08, 2015 10:00am
I think she is quite sensible and a sense of public service as compared to her brother
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Jul 08, 2015 10:26am
Good to look for animal health but in what capacity would she order the zoo management, why the protocol by govt dept?
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Jul 08, 2015 10:42am
If only the caption would shed light on which of the two women in the foreground is the Bhutto-Zardari scion....
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Jul 08, 2015 10:57am
What is her capacity and caliber that a zoo is closed for general public because she is visiting?
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Jul 08, 2015 11:10am
long live bhutto; champion of democracy and practitioners of dynastic rule
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Jul 08, 2015 11:10am
People's true representatives staying as far away from people as possible.
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Jul 08, 2015 11:31am
Whether the person hold any position in Govt. to personally observe the conditions of the animals based on media report and to seek explnations from officials?
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Jul 08, 2015 11:46am
Nothing PPP leaders do would change the perception until and unless they improve their governance and root out massive corruption and change top leadership. These PR outings reinforce the hate by public. But they don't care as they know that uneducated people in rural areas will vote for them again.
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Jul 08, 2015 12:03pm
When a Hospital in Karachi was closed because of IK´s Visit and patients have to suffer so that great Khan can run his media Show, no one one from PTI condemned but they did chest-thumping. Why always double Standards, dear PTI?
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Jul 08, 2015 12:13pm
This is democratic dictatorship !
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Jul 08, 2015 12:27pm
What a petty..... in what capacity she is giving directions to people. Who is she??????
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Jul 08, 2015 12:32pm
Its' the right place for the politicians and their families. Please keep them there.
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Jul 08, 2015 12:57pm
It seems they own the Zoo. Shame for Sinfh Goverment.
Funny part is these people are even scared of amimaks and they carry guards within zoo.
Get a life and stay away from people of Pakistan.
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Jul 08, 2015 01:07pm
Zoo animals were delighted to be visited by the Royals.
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Jul 08, 2015 01:18pm
Same thing happened when Mr. Imran Khan visited JPMC recently, poor patients and their relatives had to wait outside hospital for couple of hours!!! These political leaders have no shame!!!!!
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Jul 08, 2015 01:41pm
Why close Zoo when they visit?. They can't provide safety for poor people but only for VIPs.
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Jul 08, 2015 02:30pm
Who is she? Aseefa what?
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Jul 08, 2015 02:30pm
She was there for making fun of people, her thinking is, "you voted us, now get out, stand in a queue and wait for an hour". This is the true mentality of our political leaders, i am not discussing only about PPP, but PML N is also one of them. The same situation is here in Punjab, when a VVIP movement stop general public anywhere they want. Actually, these elites are treated with the people as they are animals. People were dying in Karachi and she was there to save the animals, because in their point of view people has minimal value as compare to animals.
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Jul 08, 2015 02:50pm
“She also inquired from the management of the zoo after health conditions of the animals and stressed that special care be given to feeding and health of the animals."
Does she really need to go to a zoo to see all the animals?
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Jul 08, 2015 02:53pm
THIS IS INSANE!!! Why didn't the zoo authorities evacuate the animals!!! Why take so much risk when you know there is a BHUTTO around!!
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Jul 08, 2015 03:27pm
Long Live the VIP culture. Dang
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Jul 08, 2015 03:43pm
She went to see how the animals weathered the heat wave. These animals are precious. Who cares about the human animal population of Pakistan, there are too many of them for the VIPs to worry about. This is another Zardari spawn trying to be a Bhutto trying to be a Stand up Politician. What a Joke.
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Jul 08, 2015 03:44pm
VIPs should have their own zoo and other facilities. Why visit among common people when they cannot understand others plight? Leave us alone VIP culture and its followers...
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Jul 08, 2015 03:45pm
Closing the Zoo for general public? She belongs in a Zoo and should have been kept there.
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Jul 08, 2015 04:13pm
She is no VIP.
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Jul 08, 2015 04:24pm
For God sake she is just a teenager please don't drag her into dirty politics - she just wanted to visit local zoo as any other young kid. Negativity does not take us too far.
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Jul 08, 2015 05:12pm
So, is she is going to alleviate the animals suffering or just a photo op?
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Jul 08, 2015 06:09pm
That's democracy ..
I wish we can put all these politicians and their families in the zoo..
Sharam tu magar aati nhi
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Jul 08, 2015 06:12pm
1947 to 2015 nothing has changed. Zoo official should be put in cages with monkeys
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Jul 08, 2015 06:30pm
why the VIPs need to close the whole zoo just for them? even with notice it should not be closed for VIP's, we need to end this VIP culture.
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Jul 08, 2015 06:33pm
Pakistan = land of the VIPS only.(else suffer )
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Jul 08, 2015 07:17pm
Does she have any right more than you and I to "enquire" from anyone else? We must start using the term "VIP" - Very Important People. What makes them such and how can anyone classify another human being as not being very important?
Is she herself aware that the park was closed for her and without prior notice to others who were just waiting outside till her highness is done. This is absolutely disgusting.
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Jul 08, 2015 07:45pm
Zoos are a brutal place.Many animals confined to small spaces do go insane.
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Jul 08, 2015 07:51pm
It would have been easier on the people of Karachi and for the animals of the zoo, if the animals would just be transported to her palace, and given a private tour. No need of protocol as well at least 40 vehicles with guards that could used to effectively police the city which pays for them. But then who cares, how else would common folks know we have Royalty (shameless) among our midst.
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Jul 08, 2015 08:29pm
Did the party pay for her to get in? and what about the loss of revenue from closing the zoo while she pet the animals? Did the party make up for it? Sure they did.Where is the other sister? her brother lol.
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Jul 09, 2015 01:59am
Simply disgraceful.
She does not have and should not have any special privileges than the ordinary person of Pakistan. It is about time that we should get rid of this VIP culture. It is destroying our country and it is against the principles of Islam.
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Jul 09, 2015 03:54am
How come they are classed as VIPs? they dont hold any high public office?
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Jul 09, 2015 11:40am
@PPP WHO cares about the hungry masses, unemployment heat wave deaths. Shame on VIP treatment. Ingrained corruption will never end. People are so used to being ignored that they accept it regardless of which political party.
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