The Pakistani Spectator

Pakistan Peoples Party Saudi Arabia and Riyadh Region solemnly observed the second shahadat anniversary of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto (SMBB) in Riyadh this past weekend. The program was hosted in a local Istarah (Farm House) which was attended by a large number of SMBB lovers and others from the Pakistani community in Riyadh and its adjoining regions.

The program was conducted by Farman Saleem which commenced with recitation of verses from the holy Quran by Sardar Sher Afzal – Vice`President PPP-KSA. This was followed with Naat recitation by Malik Shafiq Awan – Vice President PPP-Riyadh Region.

The first to speak was Malik Bilawal Ashiq – a student at the local School in Riyadh and son of Malik Ashiq – a long standing member of Executive Council of PPP-Riyadh region. Young Bilawal spoke with high praise for Mohtarma and said that her death was a great loss to Pakistan. Faiz Al-Najdi paid glowing tributes to her by highlighting her brilliance, beauty and boldness. He said that she was a brilliant leader and the whole world accepted that. He also said that SMBB in her last book Reconciliation: Islam, Democracy and the West, she has proposed many brilliant ideas to better relation between the Muslims and the West which President Obama had echoed in his historic speech addressed to the Muslims from Cairo. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton also echoed her idea of the formation of Reconciliation Corps when she founded the American-Pakistani Foundation on 11 Dec-09

Choudhry Riaz in his speech said that he had read her book, “Daughter of the East” and that he was very impressed with her writing capabilities. He said she was a great leader and we all miss her now. Sardar Sher Afzal said that a great conspiracy was hatched by the enemies of Pakistan when she was murdered. He also added that the Bhutto lovers will foil all conspiracies against Pakistan. Mahmud Bajwa from PML-N (Riyadh) in his speech said that it was no doubt SMBB was a great leader. He said we should try to follow in her footsteps and work for the betterment of Pakistan and its poor people. Sher Bahadur Aftab of ANP-Riyadh in his fiery speech paid rich tributes to SMBB. He also praised President Zardari for the great leadership that he offered after the death of SMBB. He said ANP as a coalition partner was there shoulder-to-shoulder with the government in its fight against the terrorists.

Dr. Abdul Qayyum Soomro – Political Adviser to the President of Pakistan in his telephonic address from Pakistan paid rich tributes to SMBB. He said she was their leader who was a great source of inspiration for PPP leaders and workers. He also added that the present government holds the ideals of SMBB very dearly and shall endeavor to take Pakistan out of the present crisis that we find ourselves in.

Riaz Rathore – Adviser to the President PPP-KSA – in his emotional speech was very critical of those who were after President Zardari. He said all of these were in fact Bhutto haters and to the extension were the enemies of Pakistan. He also said that at the time of SMBB’s assassination he was greatly disturbed and all sorts of negative thinking was over powering him but he controlled his emotions then. He said SMB will be remembered by all as she was a great leader of Pakistan and the Muslim world. Rana Khalid Akram – Deputy Secretary General of PML-N (Riyadh) said that it was beyond doubt that SMBB was a leader of exceptional qualities who was loved by all Pakistanis. He added that she will be missed especially when we find today our country in the midst of challenging problems.

Mohammad Asghar Qureshi – Chief Coordinator PPP-KSA – also addressed the gathering. In his usual thought provoking speech he lamented the way a great leader was removed from the political scene. He said the enemies of Pakistan and the enemies of the poor people of Pakistan were behind her murder. He also added that the leaders like SMBB are born in centuries and her gap will be very difficult to be filled. He also paid rich tributes to her and vowed that the people of Pakistan will avenge her murder by defeating them in their evil designs against Pakistan. Shamshad Siddiqui – Middle East Coordinator of Mohibbaan Pakistan – in his speech eulogized the leadership of SMBB. He said there was a long list of her achievements during her past stints as prime minister. He especially cited the milestone that she achieved in the education sector. According to him during her tenure the education budget was substantially increased. He also added that she always laid emphasis on education and that is the reason she had opened about 40,000 schools across Pakistan, especially for the majority population that lives in the rural areas of Pakistan.

Asghar Chishti – General Secretary of PML-N (Riyadh) and a noted Naat reciter paid great tributes to her and recited a heart rendering Punjabi Naat in her remembrance.

Abdul Karim Khan – Senior Vice President PPP-KSA – in his usual fiery and thought provoking speech paid glowing tributes to SMBB. He said the tri-color – Red-Black-Green – in the PPP flag has a special significance. According to him the Red color symbolizes the sacrifices that PPP leaders and the workers have been rendering for Pakistan. The Black color symbolized the rule of the dictators who always grab the power once the PPP government is able to bring peace and prosperity to Pakistan. And, the Green color symbolized the empowerment of the people of Pakistan which is only seen when there is a peoples rule in the country. He was very critical of some section of the Pakistani media and those political orphans who always conspired against the civilian rule. He said this time was different as there was a Jiala in the President House in the shape of Asif Ali Zardari who was a disciple of the Bhuttos and would foil all conspiracies against the people of Pakistan.

Finally, the Chief Guest of the occasion - Mohammad Naim Moghal made his speech. In his thoughtful speech he paid glowing tributes to SMBB and said the PPP was a party of the martyrs. It was the only party whose four top leaders lay dead in the tombs of Garhi Khuda Bakhsh. He also said these martyrs have laid down their lives so the poor people of Pakistan could live in peace and prosperity. According to him the present PPP government was making all endeavors to bring about peace and prosperity to the country and all the conspirators would ultimately eat dust and will not succeed in their evil designs against the government.

Malik Faqir Mohammad Awan – President PPP Riyadh Region in his presidential speech thanked all for finding time to attend the program in remembrance of SMBB. He also thanked Khadim-e-Harmain Sharifain – King Abdullah - for the hospitality that the expatriates receive from the government in hosting such programs. Finally, he paid rich tributes to SMBB and said that his heart sank the day she was brutally murdered. He said although she was no more but continues to live in our hearts like Baba Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto. He closed his speech by commenting that the lovers of Bhutto are there in thousands and millions and today was the testimony to the same as so many had gathered just to pay their tributes to a great leader of Pakistan – SMBB.

The program concluded with sumptuous dinner for all.