Daily Times

KARACHI: Former president and Peoples’ Party Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari said he knows there is a lot of disappointment in the country at the moment but he has come here with a message of hope for the people of Pakistan.

Asif Ali Zardari reached Karachi on Friday, where senior party leadership received him.

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, Senator Sherry Rehman, ex-prime ministers Yousuf Raza Gillani and Raja Pervez Ashraf were among the senior leaders who welcomed him when he landed at the Karachi airport.

Addressing the party workers gathered at the airport to welcome him, Asif Zardari said, “I remember when BB Shaheed came here and you welcomed her warmly and I thank you for this.”

Although there are disturbances on the borders, but Pakistan is in safe hands, he maintained. Commenting on the uprising in Indian Occupied Kashmir, he said Pakistan is symbol of strength for the Kashmiri youth; they hoist Pakistan’s flag on their homes. “It doesn’t matter who’s in power, we have to work for the country and PPP will again come into power,” vowed Asif Zardari.

On China-Pakistan relations, he said the CPEC project is for the generations to come, as it will not only benefit Pakistan, but will boost growth in the entire continent. “The future is of Pakistan and China,” he added.

Taking on his detractors, Zardari said, “When I left, political actors said I ran away, but they forget that we are those who are to be buried in Gari Khuda Baksh.”

Zardari had left Pakistan for Dubai last year, a couple of days after he had made a hard-hitting speech, what seemed to many, against the military leadership. Ever since then, Bhutto scion and PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has led the party from the front and conducted public rallies in Pakistan.

It is vital to mention that just hours before Zardari’s arrival, the offices of his close friend businessmen Anwar Majeed were raided in Karachi.The political analysts were of the view that the timings of the raids are important and meant to convey some message to the PPP leadership.