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