UMERKOT: PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has said that his party will continue to fight for the rights of minorities and oppressed people and asked when a Muslim could be president of India, why a person belonging to a minority community could not hold this post in Pakistan.

Attending a Holi event and addressing a public meeting in Marvi ground here on Thursday, he recalled that he had celebrated Divali in Mithi last year and now “I am celebrating Holi in Umerkot”.

Bilawal Bhutto said his party had always stood for the rights of minorities and oppressed, downtrodden and deprived segments of society, such as peasants, women and children. The PPP government in Sindh, he added, had passed the Hindu marriage bill and carried out a number of legislations for welfare and betterment of women, children and the poor.

“We have given freedom to the minorities and will give security to their coming generations. We will soon pass a law against forced conversion and give them the right of equal citizens,” Mr Bilawal said.

He praised the culture of harmony in Sindh where, he said, Hindus and Muslims celebrated their religious festivals together. He said that for the first time in the country’s history the Sindh government had declared holiday on Holi in the province.

“We want to make Pakistan the country of Quaid-i-Azam in accordance with his speech of Aug 11, 1947, where he said you all are free to go to your places of worship — mosque, church and temple. The state has nothing to do with it.

“We don’t want a country where minorities and Muslims, poor and rich, labourers and industrialists, and Musharraf and Benazir have their separate country. All have equal rights here and all should be provided equal opportunities,” he said.

The PPP chairman called upon the National Assembly to bring laws for equal rights in the country and asked people to support him for this cause.

PRAISE FOR PUNJAB PA: Although he criticised the PML-N government for passing what he called a weak law which did not protect the rights of women but aimed at strengthening the cruel, he praised members of the Punjab Assembly for taking such a step.

“Unfortunately, women have been treated as weak like minorities, but you should be proud that in the Muslim world, the first woman prime minister was my mother (Benazir Bhutto). The slain leader attempted to ensure equal rights for women.”

The PPP chairman said Islam is a complete religion which teaches “us to respect and protect women. Let’s join hands for a stable and prosperous Pakistan as desired by Benazir Bhutto”.

He called upon the people and politicians to learn from the mistakes of the past and work for development of the country. He also urged the people of minority communities to unite and play their role in putting the country on the path of progress and stability. No movement can be successful without women’s participation.

Mr Bilawal regretted that the people of Umerkot did not have gas facility, although Sindh produced a large quantity of gas. “I will launch a campaign if the federal government does not provide gas to the people of Umerkot.”

Earlier, the PPP chairman was presented ‘Phento’, a traditional turban, and colours of Holi were showered at him. Two girls made his ‘Aarti’ and prayed for his long life.

Traditional dances, breaking of jar and many other presentations were part of the event.

Provincial minister Ali Mardan Shah, Karni Singh Sodho and Lalchand Okrani also addressed the event. Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah, Maula Bakhsh Chandio, Nisar Khuhro, Nasir Shah, MPA Syed Sardar Shah and Mir Munawar Talpur were also present on the occasion.

Strict security arrangements were made, with 1,200 personnel of police and 200 of Special Squad and Rangers deployed in and around the ground. Three walkthrough gates were set up. All entry and exit points were cordoned off and blocked for public transport.

After attending the event and addressing the public meeting, Bilawal Bhutto left for Kharoro Syed for a meeting with PPP workers and elected representatives of local bodies.

Meanwhile, local leaders of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf set up a separate stage at Rama-Pir Chowk, where PTI MNA Lal Malhi and Haleem Adil Shaikh joined the Hindu community in Holi festivities.

Published in Dawn, March 25th, 2016