KARACHI: About half a million people accorded a thunderous and spontaneous welcome to the Libyan Head of State, President Muammer Gaddafi, on his arrival in Karachi last evening [Feb 27] from Peshawar on the last leg of his State visit... . A portion of the roof of the International Wing at the Airport collapsed and the big branches of the huge ‘peepal’ tree broke down under the weight of the human mass that had thronged every inch of the space at the Airport... .

And all along the 10-mile route from the airport to the Governor’s House, where he is staying, there was an unending stream of people who cheered, showered flower petals, and raised slogans to the beat of drums and folk instruments to celebrate the occasion. … The crowd burst into cheers and raised slogans of zindabad as Col. Gaddafi came out of the plane in his military uniform, alongside Prime Minister Bhutto. He smiled and waved in his inimitable style. Closely behind Col. Gaddafi and Premier Bhutto were Madame Gaddafi, clad in a turquoise dress, and Begum Nusrat Bhutto, in a shining blue costume. … A boy and a girl in colourful Sindhi dresses, presented bouquets to Col. Gaddafi.

Published in Dawn, February 28th, 2024