Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: October 18 was an important day in the national calendar, as on this day in 2007, battle lines were drawn between democracy and pluralism on the one hand and religious fanaticism and bigotry on the other hand.

This was stated by former president Asif Ali Zardari in a message on the 9th anniversary of Karsaz tragedy on Tuesday. The battle lines have only sharpened during the past nine years and beckoned us to continue the fight till final victory, he said. Nine years ago, Benazir Bhutto on this day returned to Pakistan from exile, defying all the warnings, because she sensed that Pakistan was faced with existential threat from the bigots and religious fanatics on the one hand and dictatorship on the other, he added.

“On this day, the enemies of democracy and Pakistan brutally attacked her caravan. Nearly 200 party workers and democrats embraced martyrdom for the cause of democracy and freedom from dictatorship, religious bigots and extremists”, Zardari said. He said today, “we salute the martyrs; they are the heroes and heroines and the strength of the nation. They have raised our hopes and steeled our determination in laying down their lives.”

The October 18 is also an occasion to reiterate the pledge to fulfill 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, he added. Zardari further said the ‘Salam Karsaz Shuhada Rally’ organised by the party on October 16 in Karachi was aimed at paying homage to the nation’s heroes as well as reiterated the pledge loudly and clearly.

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