A big, disciplined crowd attends Benazir death anniversary programme amid tight security

Published December 28, 2021
PARTICIPANTS in the Benazir Bhutto death anniversary programme listen to their leaders’ speeches in Garhi Khuda Bakhsh Bhutto on Monday.—Dawn
PARTICIPANTS in the Benazir Bhutto death anniversary programme listen to their leaders’ speeches in Garhi Khuda Bakhsh Bhutto on Monday.—Dawn

LARKANA: Some holding portraits of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Benazir Bhutto, Asif Ali Zardari and Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and some waving the tri-colour flags of Pakistan Peoples Party, big caravans of PPP leaders, workers and supporters had started arriving Garhi Khuda Bakhsh Bhutto from across the province, as well as other provinces, a day before they were to attend the Dec 27 programme organised to observe the 14th death anniversary of Benazir Bhutto, the first woman prime minister of the country.

Strictly advised to stay a little away from the venue — the vast space in front of the Bhuttos’ mausoleum, to avoid any hindrance in the arrangements for security, utilities and a smooth flow of vehicular traffic, at and around the mausoleum, the disciplined crowds kept raising slogans of Zindha hay Bibi zinda hay, Wazir-i-azam Bilawal, and Jeay Bhutto. On Monday, some of them were allowed to lay wreaths along with senior party leaders on the graves in the mausoleum.

Touching scenes were witnessed inside when workers created a gloomy situation. An enthusiastic worker, Dilbar Shaikh, had travelled from Sinjhro (Sanghar) on his bicycle to attend the event. “For years, I have been visiting Garhi Khuda Bakhsh Bhutto out of love and affection to pay homage to Benazir Bhutto on her anniversaries,” the emotionally charged youth said.

The district administration and ‘mazar committee’ had jointly made extensive arrangements in collaboration with the departments concerned to ensure a smooth movement of people all along the roads leading to the venue.

Sources in the law-enforcement agencies said about 6,800 police personnel under the command of 30 SSPs were deployed. Walkth­rough gates and CCTV cameras were installed at the entry points and every participant was allowed to enter venue of the gathering only after undergoing frisking.

Although the management had decided not to use drone cameras, some drones were seen flying and filming the event. Also, mobile signal jammers were installed to cover an undisclosed area close to the main stage. The arriving participants were accommodated in the tents allotted district-wise separately for men and women.

Arrangements for food distribution were made but the way it was done appeared imperfect as those who were assigned the job were seen throwing packets of cooked rice at people instead of handing them over in a systematic manner.

This time, women in a good number participated in the programme. Tri-colour caps and mufflers and portraits of the Bhutto family were displayed in the pindal and workers loved to buy them.

Special parking arrangements were made while heavy vehicles were used divert traffic at different points. Healthcare camps were set up in the pindal to provide emergency medical cover to people while a camp for blood donation was also established.

Fire brigade and ambulances were made available nearby.

Published in Dawn, December 28th, 2021

Opinion

Editorial

PTI in disarray
Updated 30 Nov, 2024

PTI in disarray

PTI’s protest plans came abruptly undone because key decisions were swayed by personal ambitions rather than political wisdom and restraint.
Tired tactics
30 Nov, 2024

Tired tactics

Matiullah's arrest appears to be a case of the state’s overzealous and misplaced application of the law.
Smog struggle
30 Nov, 2024

Smog struggle

AS smog continues to shroud parts of Pakistan, an Ipsos survey highlights the scope of this environmental hazard....
Solidarity with Palestine
Updated 29 Nov, 2024

Solidarity with Palestine

The wretched of the earth see in the Palestinian struggle against Israel a mirror of themselves.
Little relief for public
29 Nov, 2024

Little relief for public

INFLATION, the rate of increase in the prices of goods and services over a given period of time, has receded...
Right to education
29 Nov, 2024

Right to education

IT is troubling to learn that over 16,500 students of the University of Karachi (KU) have defaulted on fee payments...