TERRORISM is a big threat to peace in the world. It breeds when extremism gets sponsorship. A similar kind of situation commonly prevails in Pakistan, particularly it was height of terrorism on Oct 18, 2007, when PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto’s homecoming rally, the caravan of democracy, in Karachi, was target of bomb attacks that resulted in a high number of casualties -- approximately 160 dead and more than 500 injured. It was a heinous crime and should be universally denounced.

I am astonished even now to read the press conference of the then Sindh home secretary as to he had so innocently ruled out any possibility of a security lapse on the part of the government.

A few days before the arrival of the PPP chairperson the government had made a tall claim that 20,000 Rangers personnel would be deployed around the rally, cellular jammers surrounding the caravans would be enforced and secret cameras installed at Sharea Faisal and Shahrah - i - Quaideen to monitor and restrict any untoward incidents, police personnel would be deployed on rooftops of highrise buildings, high - tech equipment imported exclusively for protecting the president and the prime minister would be used in the rally, etc,. how come such a tragedy did occur?

I was an eyewitness. Only one or two police mobile vans were around Ms Bhutto’s truck and no Rangers’ personnel were found moving along with the rally, except at the airport.

Basically, the tragedy happened because of security lapse on the part of the provincial government. It appears that the government intended to sabotage the election campaign and wanted to keep public leaders and democratic forces like Ms Bhutto from the masses and create panic and fear among people. It was a warning to political forces and civil societies not to join democratic caravans. It was a threat not only to democratic forces but also to civil societies.

The main purpose of these tactics is to create possibilities to shorten the election campaign and restrict public leaders from getting in touch with people.

Why all these terrorist attacks on PPP rallies/demonstrations alone? It was an attack on democracy and on unity and integrity of Pakistan.

Beanzir declared the suicide bombing to be an attack on democracy and political process. She not only wanted to continue the “war on terror” but also intensify it.

Now it’s about five years when Benazir had arrived from exile after eight years. On arrival at Karachi airport she said: I feel very, very emotional coming back to my country. I have dreamt of this day for so many months and years. I counted the hours, I counted the minutes and seconds just to see my land, to see the grass and to see the sky.

But she was killed by those who wanted to perpetuate national slavery and keep the people backward. Here are few words from her last speech: “I put my life in danger and came here because I feel that my country is in danger”.

Despite knowing the dangers staring in the face, she dared to take the risk and died on the way as an innocent child, charming, graceful, talented and lovely Pinki. She was larger than life and leaves behind a legacy of resistance, courage and hope, People remember her as an unmatched woman political leader in Pakistan’s history.

Benazir Bhutto was a mother, a wife, a leader, a daughter, a sister who sacrificed her life for the cause of democracy so that her children and the children of the country and future generations and all of us can breathe in fresh air of democratic life.

HUMERA ALWANI MPA, Thatta