Daily Times

LAHORE: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) on Tuesday celebrated the 61st birthday of its leader and former president Asif Ali Zardari with zeal and affection.

The party organised two different events, first at Data Darbar where meal for poor people was distributed, and second at Charring Cross where party workers cut the birthday cake.

During the celebrations at Data Darbar, organised by the local leader Faisal Mir, a large number of pigeons were freed by the PPP workers in the name of democracy in Pakistan, while special prayers were offered for long and healthy life of Asif Ali Zardari and PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.

Punjab Police at start tried hard to stop the event but after seeing the reaction of angry party workers, remained away from the venue. Massive portraits inscribed with different birthday wishes, including “Happy Birthday to Nelson Mandela of Pakistan”, “Happy Birthday to the saviour of democracy” and “Happy Birthday to the soldier of Bhutto”, were also displayed on the occasion.

Addressing the gathering, former PPP Lahore information secretary Faisal Mir said that due to his unmatched sacrifices for the party and democracy, Shaheed Benazir Bhutto used to call Asif Ali Zardari as “Nelson Mandela of Pakistan” as he received several punishments, including slicing of his tongue, during his 11 years in jail.

Mir said that after the assassination of Benazir Bhutto, it was Asif Ali Zardari who stood in front of all the conspiracies hatched to finish PPP, adding that it was certain that under the guidance of Asif ali Zardari, Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari would be the next prime minister of Pakistan.

Former People’s Labour Bureau incharge Abdul Qadir Shaheen said that it was due to the sharp vision of Asif Ali Zardari that he managed to become first democratically elected president of Pakistan who completed his term in office and handed over presidency to the next democratic government.

During the cake cutting ceremony at Charring Cross, organised by the party’s female legislator Faiza Malik, former Punjab president Mian Manzoor Wattoo and other leaders participated and chanted slogans in favour of their party.

Addressing the gathering, Faiza and Wattoo said that Nawaz Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) should remember that they were enjoying democratic powers in centre and provinces just because of Asif Ali Zardari, who wisely and selflessly led the nation during his tenure as president of Pakistan.

They said that it was a fact that every time there was any “Umpire” against democracy in the country, Asif Ali Zardari took care of them through his efficient political strategies.

They said that despite the fact that successive governments, judiciary and media were seeking all kinds of trials of Asif Ali Zardari without a single case proven against him, everybody in Pakistan still believe that he is the biggest politician in the country.