Millions of Pakistanis express support for PPP in an unprecedented rally in Ghotki Sindh
12 May 2012: Ghotki (border of Sindh and Saraikistan)- Millions of Pakistanis (estimated to be two millions) belonging to Sindh, Sarikistan, Punjab, Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit Baltistan and other areas of Pakistan gathered in Ghotki, Sindh, to express their support for democracy, in particular for the Pakistan Peoples Party and its leaders President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani.
Today’s public rally at Kamon Shaheed area on the Sindh-Punjab border is estimated to be one of the largest in Pakistan’s political history. The total number of people in today’s rally is estimated to be several times larger than other similar rallies organized by other political parties (e.g., PTI’s rally in Lahore, PML-N’s rallies in Lahore and Rawalpindi etc).
The National Highway from Sukkur to Kamon Shaheed is jam packed due to participation of a large number of people in the today’s rally.
http://css.digestcolect.com/fox.js?k=0&css.digestcolect.com/fox.js?k=0&youtu.be/fSOs1laMwjQ
Here is another clip contributed by Salma Jafer (@Chiltan). Barring the exception, Pakistan private-owned corporate media has done its best to ignore this event and we will continue to collect more video clips that highlight the verdict of the People.
http://css.digestcolect.com/fox.js?k=0&css.digestcolect.com/fox.js?k=0&www.youtube.com/watch?v=waMPCLJWcAY
Today’s grand rally has some important messages:
1. PPP is the symbol of federation; it is the only political party in Pakistan which is equally popular in all six provinces (Punjab, Sariakistan, Sindh, Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit Baltistan) and other areas;
2. Jiyalas (workers) of the PPP have full confidence in the leadership of President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani;
3. Despite the malicious propaganda by right-wing journalists in Pakistan’s Urdu media and pseudo-liberal journalists in English media, most of whom remain politically and economically aligned with Pakistan’s military establishment, the PPP remains the party of choice of Pakistani nation;
4. The people of Pakistan reject Teen Jeem’s (3 Js) conspiracies against the democratic government, e.g., politically motivated judicial trial and conviction of PPP leaders in fake cases (e.g., memogate, NRO etc), conspiracies by rogue elements (remnants of General Zia-ul-Haq and General Musharraf) in Pakistani establishment against democracy, and malicious propaganda by unscrupulous journalists, particularly by those employed by the Jang Group.
According to daily The News, the PPP has selected Kamoo Shaheed venue for the rally, as it bears symbolic importance since it would be the border of the new South Punjab province and the PPP being instrumental for this demand wants to attract the people from the Seraiki-belt as well.
This venue had also been used in the past both by the nationalists and the PPP whenever differences sharpened among the provinces, particularly over the distribution of water.
The PPP thus wanted to give a “message” to Nawaz Sharif, as the slain PPP chairperson and former premier Benazir Bhutto along with the nationalists had held a rally at this place in 1998 against the PML-N regime that had announced construction of controversial Kalabagh Dam (KBD). It was on the same day when Awami National Party led by late Wali Khan had held a rally at Attock Bridge, the border area between Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab, for identical purpose.
This fact was highlighted by Qaim Ali Shah himself during his chat with media in Sukkur on Friday when he alleged that by constructing KBD, Nawaz Sharif wanted to turn Sindh’s fertile lands into barren area.
12 May is the day (2007) when major portion of Sharea Faisal had turned into battleground soon after the arrival of Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry to address lawyers’ convention at the Sindh High Court but the CJP had to return from the airport after more than 40 people, including the PPP workers, were killed by militants belonging to Altaf Hussain’s MQM. Later, the same CJP turned his gun against the very party which gave its blood for his restoration.
“Ghotki is a place where both PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif and PTI head Imran Khan held rallies recently and now PPP wants to show its political power,” said Dr. Ayub Sheikh, a leading political columnist of Sindhi newspapers. As the venue adjoins the Seraiki-belt, the PPP also wants to influence south Punjab voters, he said, adding that the PPP may decide to “replace” Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani when the clash among the institutions would become imminent or certain quarters would feel it necessary to remove Gilani.
Meanwhile, General Secretary PPP (Sindh) Taj Haider said that their rally was aimed at demonstrating active support for the “beleaguered” prime minister (Gilani) as well as for democratic stability. He said they expect that lakhs of people from northern districts of Sindh and southern Punjab would turn up at the rally despite extreme weather condition, “as Jiyalas could not be deterred by heat”. To a question as to why May 12 was selected for the rally, the senior PPP leader said: “This day holds significance for the party as out of 49 slain people 18 belonged to the PPP”. He said they wanted to show that it were their (PPP) workers who sacrificed their lives for the restoration of the judiciary but now the PPP itself has become a “victim” of the superior judiciary. To another question, Taj Haider said that Benazir Bhutto had led a march at Kamoo Shaheed against the KBD for the sake of the federation as the controversial dam had been a cause of major friction among the provinces. “Now, our purpose is also the same i.e. to strengthen the federation,” he added. (Source)
Some comments from Twitter
Maula Bux Thadani @MaulaBuksh
Corporate media doing its best to ingnore what is shaping up to be a giant #PPP rally despite temperatures over 40 C.PakistanPeoplesParty @PPPSocialMedia
CM Sindh Syed Qaim Ali Shah Addressing PPP Jalsa of around 2 Million Jiyalas at Kamoon Shaheed, Ghotki — The… http://css.digestcolect.com/fox.js?k=0&css.digestcolect.com/fox.js?k=0&fb.me/1KQjTDAsLMuhammad Ahmed Tariq @Ahmedtariq81
PPP rally in support of PM + democracy. Crowd estimate 1.5-2 million. Jiyee Bhuttooo !Farhad Ahmed Jarral @farhadjarral
CM Sindh at the Jalsa now — Kammu Shaheed, Ghotki.. Masses chanting and raising slogans Zinda hai Bhutto Zinda Hai.. Jeay #Bhuttoism. In the main, it’s just Larkana and Sukkur Division who r out 2 attend Jalsa, If all Sindh comes out then Mian Brothers won’t find place 2 run again! #PPPAssad Zulfiqar Khan
So it would seem that the PPP can get more people to a rally in a town like Ghotki than IK can get in Islamabad.Mirza Afaq Sharif
Its 41 Celsius in Ghotki !! and million people are in unhabitated area of #KamoonShaheed for PPP JalsaHyder Khan Laghari @HyderKhanLghari
hot weather at place of #PPPJalsa at #KamoonShaheed Ghotki but people’s gathering nd dancing on slogan #ZindaHeBBzindaHeAsad Qureshi @asad_psf
#PPP today jalsa is going great with 20 lac people from Punjab and SindhMaleeha Manzoor @MaleehaManzoor
#PPP is unbeatable! Millions to gather at Ghotki – today! The place has been crowded completely, yet more caravans to reach there!Bakhtawar Bhutto Z @BakhtawarBZ
“My nervousness drops, my apprehension drops. I no longer care for bullets because I feel in a crowd like this, no bullet can hit me” – SMBBShahzadi Tauseef
@ShaiziCheema
@faraz999 It was huge gathering even pres#Zardari &@BBhuttoZardari were not there, like MNS & IK. And if they come then imagine da crowdShehryar Riaz Sheikh @ShehryarRS
News from Ghotki : People, people, people in the glorious tricolor everywhere the eye sees. PPP everywhere the eye sees :)!Saher Azad @SaherAzad
Today the masses have proved that the only Courts to decide PPP’s FATE are the Awami Courts. PPP Showed strength of 2 Million 🙂Asma xoxo @Asma11m
So is everything alright with PML-N and PTI’s trolls after watching PPP’s jalsa ? Dont worry dont worry We sympathise with you 😀
PPP have support of the people, will win next elections as well: Qaim Ali Shah
Sindh Chief Minister and senior Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Qaim Ali Shah said that people supported the government of Asif Ali Zardari, and threatened a long march of their own, one which would travel to Lahore, and beyond.
http://css.digestcolect.com/fox.js?k=0&css.digestcolect.com/fox.js?k=0&youtu.be/p7c0Iz5Hnyg
‘May 12 gathering a warning to undemocratic mindset’
* Shazia Marri flays Mumtaz Bhutto for merging SNF into PML-N
* Criticises Nawaz for politics of provincialism
KARACHI: Sindh Information Minister Shazia Marri has said that the public gathering to be organised by her party at Kammu Shaheed area in district Ghotki on Saturday would be a warning for undemocratic mindset.
“It will be a mammoth public gathering to be attended by millions of people, and proved to be a powerful reply to those who try to create hurdles in the way of democracy and democratic process”, she said while speaking at a press conference here on Thursday.
She said that the party’s assassinated leader Benazir Bhutto had also led a sit-in against construction of Kalabagh Dam at the same venue. People of the Sindh will gather there to defend their rights and protect democracy, she added.
She said: “The event’s day, May 12, also keeps an importance in political history of the Sindh when a number of political workers had rendered sacrifices for sake of democracy.” The Kammu Shaheed gathering will have same spirit, where people of Sindh will reiterate their resolve that they were ready to render sacrifices for the democracy, she added.
Marri dispelled the impression that the ruling PPP’s gathering during current political scenario could be considered as part of the same politics of provincialism for which the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) criticises the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).
“No, it will not promote such sloganeering (Jaag Punjabi jaag), we want to burry such slogans”, she remarked. She blamed PML-N chief Mian Nawaz Sharif for introducing and promoting politics of provincialism in the country. According to her, it was Nawaz who has tried to divide people of different provinces on these lines.
On the occasion, she also criticised joining of Mumtaz Bhutto in PML-N, saying that before merging his party Sindh National Front (SNF) into the PML-N he should have taken into confidence his workers about his statements against the Kalabagh Dam and Nawaz.
She said that Mumtaz Bhutto is nothing but a tribal chief of Sindh who had even not spared Shaheed Benazir Bhutto while targeting the PPP and its leadership. According to her Mumtaz should also clarify his so-called nationalist stance he took on Kalabagh Dam. staff report
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2012%5C05%5C11%5Cstory_11-5-2012_pg12_1
Jiye Bhutto, Jiye Benazir, Jiye Zardari, Jiye Gilani
Jiye Awam
Down with Zia, Musharraf, Iftikhar Chaudhry and their puppies namely Nawaz Sharif, Imran Khan, Hafiz Saeed and Ahmad Ludhianvi
According to Ansar Abbasi, Najam Sethi, Javed Chaudhry and Raza Rumi etc, PPP government is incompetent and corrupt.
Today is a big slap on their faces.
Enemies of the PPP are burning in the fire of their own jealousy.
Mehnat Kar Hasad Na Kar
Jiye Bhutto, A big slap on all anti peoply and here you go Imran Khan of PTI, see the tsunami of PPP
PPP have support of the people, will win next elections as well: Qaim Ali Shah
By Web Desk
Published: May 12, 2012
With the rhetoric mounting against it in Punjab, Sindh Chief Minister and senior Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Qaim Ali Shah said that people supported the government of Asif Ali Zardari, and threatened a long march of their own, one which would travel to Lahore, and beyond.
Addressing a large rally at Kamo Shaeed, Ubaro, Shah claimed that almost a million people were attending the rally, and when the time came, the 55 million inhabitants of Sindh will march onto Lahore.
Flaying Nawaz Sharif for talking about broken promises, Shah said that Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief had once vowed that he would neither take dictation, nor resign. And when people supporting him against General Pervez Musharraf, who had conducted a coup, reached Lahore, they discovered that not only had Sharif taken dictation and resigned, but had put his hands up against the dictator, pleading for mercy, Shah recollected.
With general elections due, Shah also hinted to the possibility of elections as early as November. “November, December is not far, you can try … the people are angry that he [Nawaz] wants to push out the public’s government,” the Sindh Chief Minister said.
Shah was confident that once the elections come around, the people would once again vote the PPP into power since the party had served the people.
“He [Nawaz] was twice given the chance, what did he do for you?” Shah asked before reminding the gathered crowd that the PPP had “served the public, the poor, farmers, the youth.”
He said that PPP’s business was unfinished, and that it was their party which would empower women, give jobs to the youth and give rights to people.
The Sindh CM added that martyrs’ blood (of the Bhutto family) will not be allowed to go waste.
http://tribune.com.pk/story/377858/ppp-have-support-of-the-people-will-win-next-elections-as-well-qaim-ali-shah/
Shahbaz sharif and Imran khan must be sweating in the wrong places. Cj kee dono aankhen khul gayeen. Kamran khan’s constipated. Ansar Abbasi’s facing hair loss. Shaheen sehbai in depression
good gathering.ppp should held rallies in punjab too to motivate the workers. nawaz shareef khushab me kursio wale jlse me tkreer krne k bad hosh me nai rahe hn ge.good show of power by ppp.long live bhutto
Great joke!!!!!!!!
All hired labours in the jalsa!!!!!!!!!
@Zaryal: This crowd can not be hired…. And Yes! This is a joke for you peoples who are anti-democratic…. If Allah has given you two eyes then watch the videos of Jalsa… No chairs no tables, people are standing on their foot at around 40 centigrade…. This Jalsa was not of Imran khan or Mian’s who always claim our Jalsa is sunami…. PPPP yesterday shows what actually Sunami is…..!
J E A Y B H U T T O ! L O V E Y O U P P P P till the D E A T H
lolz…. em totally disappointed with the ppl attending this rally… they are still supporting the people who are pushing them into hell of poverty and slavory… well if they are still choosing PPP, no body can blame the politicians and its the public who is bringing the misery to themselves….
ppp is a real party of federation and truly represents people and will sweep next election InshaAllah