Daily Times

It was 18th October, 2007 when clouds of militancy and aggression were hovering the country. There was reign of an organized dictatorship, terrorism and terror at National as well international level. Undemocratic powers had paralyzed almost all the institutions of the country and there was none who was ready to take care of the deprived people of Pakistan. This is when Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, the bold daughter of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, one of the great Leaders of the people of Pakistan, taking a bid on her life, challenged dictatorship. International powers of totalitarianism threatened Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto that she would face confronting grave consequences and repercussions, but the bold daughter of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto had unyielding determination to keep the promises she had committed with her people that “We will live and die with our people”. For the sake of her promise with the people, Mohtarma decided and announced her return back to her home.

On 18th October, 2007 when Mohtarma arrived at Karachi, the Capital of Sindh, an ocean of thousands of jialayas overflowed the Roads and streets of the city, which was overshadowed with terror and fear, were reverberating with slogans as “Tum kitney Bhutto maarogey, har ghar sey Bhutto niklega”, “Marvi Malir jee, Benazir, Benazir”, “Charon soobon ki zanjeer, Banazir, Benazir”. Flags, caps and welcome banners of Peoples Party were at full display and devotees including children, women and even old men were seen dancing to bid welcome to their daring leader Motharma Benazir Bhutto. This view emanated a message that dictatorship was about to be demolished and a new sun of democracy had risen. On that day Mohtarma along with her companions was crossing Shahrah-e-Faisal, “Karsaz Road” of Karachi which was overflowing by devotees and activists of the Party meanwhile the followers of dictatorship and evil powers devised a conspiracy by disconnecting electricity of the city also started firing from all the directions. Blasts occurred near the truck, which was decorated for the welcome of Mohtarma, in which she was traveling. Due to the blasts vehicles caught fire, hue and cries were being heard in the rally. Moments of happiness converted into cries and grief. Dead bodies of activists were lying on the roads and injured were crying and moaning due to injuries. Roads were red with blood of activists. In such a dreadful situation the boldness and courage of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto was worth to be saluted. Mohtarma held herself boldly stood with the injured instead of thinking for herself and her life. This example of love and care of a leader will be remembered in history. Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai, centuries ago, has said,

“Bhago aaon na chawan, maaryo ta wass-haan,

Kaandh munhan mein dhakra, sekeendey sunhaan,

Ta pin lajj maraan, je hoondas puth mein”

Really devotees of Benazir Bhutto clung to the truck of their beloved leader for saving her life. They have been unforgotten due to their unique and exclusive sacrifice for their great leader.

164 activists embraced martyrdom and 500 activists were injured during the incident of 18th October, 2007. An atmosphere of scare and fear was prevailing throughout the country. Dead bodies of “Shuhda” were being sent to different parts of the country and injured were being sent to nearby hospitals. Cries of injured activists were heard from all the hospitals of Karachi city. It was being assumed that Mohtarma might go to Bilwal House and restrict her activities or will go abroad, but the history is evident that on the very next day on 19th October, 2007 she reached Jinnah Hospital to inquire the well being of the injured activists and also visited the houses of Shuhda in Leyari and held their children in her lap to deliver the message to dictators that,

“Anjha rin maan rarr achey thi, achey thi,

Mata eain samjho ta muaa mor saara”

History is evident that Bhutto family has never bowed before the whims of dictators and have preferred death instead of sideing with evil powers. Mohtarma Benazir rightly proved that she cannot be scared by any threats of evil powers and she continued her usual activities. The International game changers once again attacked the bold and fearless daughter of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto on 27th December, 2007 during a rally at Rawalpindi and deprived the country of a great leader forever. The conspirators assumed that by the martyrdom of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto they would obliterate the name of Bhutto from the hearts of People. But it was the historical misconception of dictators that they would be successful in their evil schemes. We are witnesses that even today Bhutto is alive in the hearts of thousand millions of peoples with much more resilience .

Today once again history has repeated itself and Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, a brave son of a bold Shaheed daughter of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto has come out in the ground with the mission of his Shaheed parents. Bilwal has announced a rally from Bilawal House to Shahrah-e-Faisal “Karsaz Road” Karachi on 16th October, 2016 to pay homage to the Shuhda of the incident of 18th October, 2007. This brave son has given a clear message to the people of Karachi and Pakistan that peace in Karachi and throughout Pakistan is the first preference of his mission.