Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Battle lines were drawn between democracy and pluralism on the one hand and religious fanaticism and bigotry on the other on October 18, 2007, said former president Asif Ali Zardari while referring to the dastardly attack on the homecoming parade organised for former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, commonly known as Karsaz tragedy.

“Those battle lines have only sharpened during the past nine years and beckon us to continue the fight until final victory,” he said in a message on the 10th anniversary of Karsaz tragedy.

“Nine years ago on this day Benazir Bhutto returned to Pakistan from exile, defying all odds and warnings, because she sensed that Pakistan was facing an existential threat from bigots and religious fanatics on the one hand and dictatorship on the other.”

He added, “It was on this day when the enemies of democracy and Pakistan brutally attacked her caravan. Nearly 200 party workers and democrats embraced martyrdom for the sake democracy and freedom from dictatorship, religious bigots and extremists.”

“Today we salute martyrs; they are heroes and heroines and the strength of the nation. In laying down their lives they have raised our hopes and steeled our determination.”

The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) co-chairman said that the day was also an occasion to reiterate the pledge to fulfil the mission of Benazir Bhutto to uphold democracy and defeat militants and those who flaunt their bigoted version of religion to advance their anti-democracy and anti-women agenda. “The Salam Karsaz Shuhada rally organised by the party three days ago in Karachi was aimed at paying homage to the nation’s heroes as well as reiterate the pledge loudly and clearly. I wish to commend all those who helped organise it,” he maintained.

He said that extremists and their political backers who could not face her (Benazir) politically were continuing their attacks on the progressive and democratic forces behind the façade of religion. “The battle lines drawn on this day have only sharpened. We will continue this battle till final victory Insha Allah.”

He went on to say, “Today let us also rededicate ourselves to fighting extremism and the enemies of democracy.” “As we remember the martyrs of Karsaz let us also remember in our prayers the personnel of armed forces, civil law enforcing agencies and the people who have made untold sacrifices in the fight against extremism,” he added.

Published in Daily Times, October 18^th 2017.