Karachi on Saturday
Courtesy: Kashif

My cities…..for the last three days, precisely, are being defined by deserted streets with governing silence filled of fear, death and destruction, what else???

Benazir has been killed, grave, I heard the news, something died right inside there (don’t they know how precious a life is????????), then I saw that on TV, I was about to leave for market when my cell got a burst of SMSs and then calls, ….stay home, don’t go out, its not safe out there. At the first place, it was not easy to absorb the shock and then these instructions, but more important was to ensure the safety of the loved ones who were outside home (with “a busy network”). The very moments, whole nation was mourning on the sad demise of Ms. Bhutto vehemently, I really did not feel the urge to have my dinner (reminded me of the earthquake days). Pain (is there any bigger word to express pain?), sadness, and a definitive sense of bereavement was everywhere. I saw it on the faces of anchor persons on TV, the leaders, and even nonpolitical persons… also inside my home.

But, what the heck?… why we had to feel so unsafe with the news that reaction to her brutal assassination has spread anarchy across the country (khatra hay, don’t go outside), I mean this was too much, destroying/burning government and private properties and vehicles???? FOR WHAT???? (even Edhi vans were burned down in Karachi). WHERE IS Peaceful Protest thingy??? ….(did you guys observed that most of the leading protesters were youngsters/teenagers breaking the cars??).

The second day, though Qari sahib made his way to our home to teach kids (unexpectedly, motorbikes were on the go), my brother was still in the factory area, he was forced by us to spend the night there. A few grocery stores were opened in the morning in Lahore, say three or four maybe. Petrol pumps did become active by evening, that you can see in the pictures, which was the biggest concern for people.

Anyhow, tomorrow is a working day (?)….. (lets see whats gonna happen) as everyone is hoping for a peaceful and calm situation in the whole country (we are losing billions on daily basis due to closed businesses), everyone is concerned and praying for the stabilization and that this chaos withers away ASAP. All I know is that I want my cities back, I want no one to be unsafe ….. I want peace for everyone, lets pray and hope for the best.
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Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. Asif Ali Zardari in a press conference at Naudero, Sindh has announced that from now onwards Bilawal Zardari son of Benazir Bhutto and Asif Ali Zerdari, will be called “Bilawal Bhutto Zardari”.
He said that their Children have decided to add their mother’s family name to their names.
Asif Ali Zerdari, urged Nawaz Shrif not to boycott the elections 2008. They have nominated Ameen Fahim as their Prime Minister.

The Election Commission of Pakistan has announced to postpone the Jan. 8, 2008 National and Provincial assembly elections in view of the sensitive situation in the country after the death of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto. Apart from that another Provincial candidate Asfand yar Aameer Zaib, Walee-a-Sawat was killed in a bomb blast Friday. New date for the elections will be announced tomorrow after a meeting with government and security officials.

In some places, the commission said, the security situation was “not conducive” to holding the elections on Jan 8. “Election Commission offices in nine districts have been set on fire, leaving electoral rolls reduced to ashes.”

And Pakistan People Party has decided to participate in the Jan 8 elections, their candidates will participate in the upcoming elections, with Bilawal Bhutto Zardari as the Chairperson.

Video of the shots fired at Benazir

Related posts:
Teeth Maestro’s post here.
My own FIR of sorts here

Daily Express featured my picture, which I published at Lahore Metroblogging under the title ‘Heart on sale’, in it’s newspaper on 27-12-2007
Here is the link to the page where it is published.

{L} Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto {C} Indra Gandhi {R} Benazir Bhutto

The three legendary prime ministers were once together.

This picture was taken during the Shimla Agreement in which the Bhutto family is sitting with Indra Gandhi.
The Picture was published in a local newspaper under the caption “Past Memory”

(Caption reads in English as)
Past Memory: Three Prime Ministers: To the right is the current Prime Minister of Pakistan Benazir Bhutto.Beside her the Indian Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi, is sitting who was assassinated by her own Sikh guards. In the left corner the former Prime Minister, Zulifiqar Ali Bhutto, is sitting who was executed in 1979 on the orders of court. The pic has been taken during Shimla Agreement in 1973.

“Shaheed ki beti agar shaheed na hoti to mjhe darr tha ke woh marr jaati!”

“If the daughter of martyred had not been martyred; I’s afraid she had been dead!“

I, Usman Latif, was one of the greatest offenders of Ms. Benazir Bhutto (BB) and never considered her a successful Prime Minister. I don’t want to think why I didn’t like her but I had no logic to prove her a good ruler. My focus was totally on her performance being a ruler and I think, like all other Pakistanis, I’ve a right to think so. But, I never thought of her personal life… yup, I did a bit… but never bothered to analyze her personal life deeply. The main reason was her dominating negative role of a ruler of my country; which had been built-up in my mind and never let me to think like this. But still I’m not able to satisfy myself of her professional career as a ruler, but… today, after this grave incident, she has the greatest sympathy of mine, at least for a while.

“Kuch log marr kr ammar ho jaate hein!”

“Some die and become immortal!“

Now, I fully understood the meaning of this quote because, I’ve observed and I strongly believe that her death brought her more pride than her life. She got what people never get even after years of struggle. Whenever the history of Pakistan will be recalled. She has got sympathy of all the world and even in the hearts of her enemies. Everyone condemnd her death. No one (pro/anti) dared to even think against BB at this moment. It was not fear or her stature but the criticality and the sensitivity of the time and issue that squeezed their souls and left every one with a question mark in his mind, blank faces, sobbed hearts, horrible thoughts, blurred future, fear of safety and with so many unable to explain feelings. This single death can lead us to a mass devestation if riots are started. I mean, we can never ignore the extraneous elements creating violence in our country and have planned a lot more for us. The situation is critical and the unity is badly needed. That’s what’s going on in the minds of most of the people.

The rivals, who used to criticize and sometimes abuse the lady, just forgot the professional jealousy and rivalry and 100% of them accepted that it’s cruelty. Whether she was your favorite or not, a two time Prime Minister must not die like that.

Shaheedo ki dastan,

Bhutto tera khandan.

The story of martyred,

Is Bhutto’s Family.

Despite all other things, I’m greatly grieved over the incident and believe that her murder washed away all the negations on her personality (atleast for a while) and he’ll live in the hearts of many people.

Yeh Baazi khoon ki baazi he,

Yeh baazi tm hi haaro ge,

Her ghar se bhutto nikle ga,

Tum kitne bhutto maaro ge.

This game is a game of blood,

You’ll definitely lose this game,

Bhutto’ll come out of every house,

How many Bhuttos you will kill.

In the end I’ll say that what ever she was, her death made her important and overall her death is the evidence of the failure of our system and every one doubts one’s own security. May her soul rest in peace.

(The quotes are among the txt messages circulated on mobiles to honor BB. I really appologize about the mistakes in English adaptation.)

Was “9” unlucky for Benazir Bhutto..?

Born in 1953
=> 1 + 9 + 5 + 3 = 18
=> 1 + 8 = 9

Died in 2007
=> 2 + 0 + 0 + 7 = 9

Total years from 1953 to 2007 is
=> 54 years
=> 5 + 4 = 9

1st suicidal attack,
=> 18 oct
=> 1 + 8 = 9

2nd suicidal attack,
=> 27 dec
=> 2 + 7 = 9

There have been a serious damage to PTCL’s backhaul fiber optic system which has caused a major outage for internet /telco systems in PK specially Lahore. ISP’s using TW1 backbone are working fine at the moment but all other ISPs behind PIE/PTCL backbone are suffering from this. I have managed to write these lines due to a satellite link around.

Initial reports are coming in that one of the Telco exchange in karachi (perhaps Marson or Cantt.) is the center point for this outage. Will keep you posted once their is an update.