Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto electric feeder inaugurated in Larkana

LARKANA: Sindh Minister for Law & Parliamentary affairs Mr. Muhammad Ayaz Soomro inaugurated Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto electric feeder at grid station Larkana, speaking on the occasion he said that by opening the new electric feeder the load shedding in Larkana will be decreased and the new grid station in Larkana district will also be inaugurated in near future as well as two other electric feeders will also be in operation with the results the people of Larkana city will be benefited.

He appreciated the efforts of HESCO chief Mr. Nazir Ahmed Shaikh and SEPCO (Sukkur Electric Power Company) chief Mr. Shamsdin Shaikh, P.D SEPCO Mr. Aijaz Gaad, Manager SAPCO Larkana Mr. Noor Ahmed Dayo and other SAPCO officers for completing the new electric feeders in short time in public interest.

While addressing at reception hosted in his honour by the citizens of Shaikh Zaid colony of Larkana Mr. Muhammad Ayaz Soomro has said that the Shaikh Zaid Colony was established by the efforts of Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, the colony was neglected from the basic facilities in the past. The Minister announced that the MALKANA rights will be given to the residents of Shaikh Zaid Colony Larkana by paying nominal rate of rupees 10 per feet in this regard the DCO Larkana who is the chairman of allotment committee will prepare summary for the honorable chief Minister for approval. The Minister also announced that the public park, Eid Gaah will also be established in the light of the demand of the people of Shaikh Zaid Colony besides the another disposal will be provided so that the drainage system of the colony may be ensured in a proper way.

Minister criticize on political orphans who were un necessary giving statements against the present Government, the Minister reiterated that PPP is the party of Shuhada, the leader ship of party provide great sacrifice of their lives for the rights of poor people & restoration democracy.

Mr. Ayaz Soomro assured the people of Shaikh Zaid Colony Larkana that the basic facilities will be provided them without any delay, he also said that all out efforts are being made for the rehabilitation of flood victims in the first phase an amount of Rupees 20000 were being provided through WATAN CARD and an amount of rupees 100000 will be provided to each flood affected family in due course of time.

He also said that NADRA centers in Larkana will be opened at Elementary college at Larkana on 22nd September, 2010 besides another NADRA center will also be opened at Ratodero on 25 September 2010 in order to prepare WATAN CARD to flood affected people of upper Sindh area.

On the occasion HESCO chief Mr. Nazir Ahmed Shaikh, DCO Larkana Mr. Abdul Aleem Lashari assured the people of Shaikh Zaid Colony that their problems will be solved on priority basis.*

On the occasion Mr. Ayaz Jafri, Saleem Abbasi, Abdul Hameed Pathan welcome the chief guest and other guests and pointed out the problems of the people, the reception was largely attended by the PPP le4aders Mr. Khair Muhammad Shaikh, Aijaz Laghari, Deedar Shah, Abdul Ghani Jatoi, Saleem Soomro and large number of party workers. *

Benazir Bhutto monument provokes anger in Pakistan

Mrs Bhutto, a former prime minister of Pakistan and member of one of the country's most powerful families, was assassinated in a suicide attack in December 2007. Asif Ali Zardari, her husband, is now president, and the 10-acre park and library complex in her name received approval at the start of the month.

The monument has been more than two years in the planning and had already attracted the ire of political opponents and campaigners before the floods. The government has estimated that the floods have caused damage of $43 billion.

Kamran Shafi, a former press secretary to Mrs Bhutto and columnist for Dawn newspaper, has led the call to scrap the project. "It looks extremely bad when so many people are without medicine or homes," he said. "The idea is silly."

Mr Zardari has been accused of politicising relief efforts after his ruling Pakistan People's Party suggesting building new towns for flood victims to be named Benazirabad.

Plans for two monuments – one in Rawalpindi on the assassination site and one in Islamabad – have already survived a legal challenge, which argued that Mrs Bhutto should not be considered a "national hero".

A thousand people a day are signing an online petition urging the monument money be spent on flood relief instead. It says: "Our priority should be our people who are suffering, and we are almost sure that our former Prime Minister, Benazir Bhutto, who loved this country and its people, would also agree."

Farhatullah Babar, the president's spokesman, defended the project. "Benazir Bhutto was the twice elected prime minister of Pakistan and she did so much for democracy and human rights that it is only fitting a memorial is built in her honour," he said.

"The design has been approved but so far no funds have been released. The committee will now consider what to do in light of the floods,” he added.

A building for Bhutto: A monumental mistake

Is our leadership foolish or do they simply enjoy poking the nation every now and then? A monument for Benazir would have been a good idea, had there been no floods!

As the millions affected by the flood await help and support, our leaders have been going around gathering funds from around the globe. While the initial aid received will help the government support the affected people on an emergency basis, billions of dollars are required to get Pakistan up and running.

While we receive international money and continue to ask for more, there was an urgent need to pay our respects to the former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto by building a monument that would ultimately cost somewhere around Rs. 1 billion. My question is, why now? Did the honorable Prime Minister think the people of Pakistan won’t notice? Or did he think the international media would ignore it? Or is it a twisted strategy to win the public? Or is it plain stupidity?

Benazir Bhutto was a great woman. Her global presence and charming personality will always be remembered. Would it not be a wise idea to help rehabilitate the flood affected people of Pakistan in Benazir’s name? In fact, the government could have spent twice the amount on setting up a small village for the poor in Benazir’s name or a shelter for the poor where free food would be distributed. No taxpayer would oppose such a gesture. However, the government chose to go with a concrete, heartless slab to remember a grand personality like Benazir’s. The government decided to tell the international community that Pakistan needs more aid from abroad because it has a better use for its own cash.

Such an amount does not drastically disturb the budget of the country. Everybody will continue living like they do, with or without the monument. However, it has a symbolic value. At a time when millions cry for a meal, creating a monument for Benazir is like throwing mud on her legacy. The woman represented the people of Pakistan. Even those who opposed her policy could not deny that she was the face of Pakistan’s public. Surely a person like that does not need a building to keep her place in the hearts and minds of people.

The post-Bhutto Peoples Party clearly has issues. The insecurity is such that they cannot let the people forget that they represent Benazir Bhutto. It is not their fault because it was Benazir’s vote bank that got them into power. It is Benazir’s memory that stands stronger than all these leaders combined. It is Benazir’s legacy that helps these incompetent individuals stay in power.

Former President Musharraf spent Rs700 million on a national monument. That money could have been spent elsewhere and put to better use. But millions of Pakistanis were not homeless during that time, hence, the level of criticism was relatively low.

Benazir Bhutto’s legacy must stand differently. There is a time for everything, and now is not the time for Benazir’s monument.

President Zardari, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari visit ancestral graveyard of Bhutto family

By GR Gorar and
Abdul Ghaffar Khoso
LARKANA: President Asif Ali Zardari along with Chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Bakhtawar Bhutto Zardari on Tuesday visited the graves of the martyrs of Bhutto family at Garhi Khuda Bux. They visited the mausoleums of Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and Shaheed Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto. President Asif Ali Zardari, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Bakhtawar Bhutto Zardari laid floral wreaths at the graves of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto and founder Chairman of PPP and former Prime Minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and offered fateha. They also visited the graves of late Shireen Amir Begum, the first wife of Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, Mir Murtaza Bhutto and Mir Shahnawaz Bhutto and laid wreaths and offered fateha. Sindh Law Minister Muhammad Ayaz Soomro, Senior Vice President PPP Larkana district Dr. Shafqat Hussain Soomro, MPA Ghulam Mujadid Isran, Abdul Fateh Bhutto, Khair Muhammad Shaikh, Ghulam Mustafa Lghari, Aijaz Laghari and PPP leaders were present on the occasion. Earlier, on arrival at the Garhi Khuda Bux helipad, President Zardari and Chairman PPP Bilawal Bhutto Zardari were received by the Sindh Law Minister Muhammad Ayaz Soomro, Dr. Shafqat Hussain Soomro and other PPP leaders.
Flood affectees stage protests in Larkana
Different protest demonstrations were staged by the flood victims in the relief camps at Municipal Stadium, Pilot School, Girls College, Degree College, Station Road and other areas against the provision unhygienic food and contaminated water.
While talking to newsmen, the protestors condemned the local authorities for not providing them facilities. They demanded of the high-ups to take notice of the matter and provide them facilities, otherwise they have threatened to extend their protest level.
Meeting of Sindhi Sahafi Sangat held
A meeting of Sindh Sahafi Sangat (SSS) held on Tuesday. In the meeting the leaders of SSS discussed different party matters. They announced to establish relief goods collecting camps for the flood affectees after Eid-ul-Fitr.
On the occasion, Nazir Ahmed Siyal, Muhammad Ali, Qazi Aijaz, Imtiaz Ali, M Yaseen, Barkat Ali, A Ghaffar and others were also present.
District Officer Civil Defense Larkana briefs about relief works
Civil Defense Larkana authorities are actively participating in relief work during flood situation in Larkana and Kamber-Shahdadkot. This was said by the District Officer Civil Defense Larkana Ghulam Akbar Buriro while talking to newsmen on Tuesday.
He added that his department has so far provided 700 tents to the flood affected people and installed tents at 14 points in Larkana district. He further informed that the civil defense volunteers are engaged in rescue and relief works since several weeks.

President visits ancestral graveyard of Bhutto family

LARKANA, Sept 1 (APP): President Asif Ali Zardari visited the ancestral graveyard of Bhutto family at Garhi Khuda Baksh, some 32 kilometres from here on Wednesday.He visited the shrine of assassinated chairperson of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto. He laid wreath, offered “Fateha” for the “Isal-i- Sawab” and also recited “Surah Yaseen” from the Holy Quran there.

President Asif Ali Zardari also laid wreath at the grave of founder Chairman of PPP and former Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and offered ‘Fateha’.
He also visited the graves of late Shireen Amir Begum, the first wife of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Shaheed Mir Murtaza Bhutto and Shaheed Mir Shahnawaz Bhutto and laid wreaths there.

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali, Senator Islamuddin Shaikh, Provincial Ministers Agha Siraj Ahmed Khan Durrani, Muhammad Ayaz Soomro, Ms. Tauqeer Fatima Bhutto, State Minister for Religious Affairs Ms Shugufta Jumani, Senior Vice President PPP Larkana district Dr. Shafqat Hussain Soomro, MNAs, MPAs and PPP leaders were present on the occasion.