World | Pakistan
Expatriate community blames lax security
Pakistanis in the UAE have reacted with shock and grief to the assassination of Benazir Bhutto and described her demise as a national tragedy.
- By Ashfaq Ahmed, Staff Reporter
- Published: 00:34 December 29, 2007
- Clockwise from top left: Sardar Javed Yaqoob, Syed Sajjad Shah, Abdul Nabi Bangash, Qasim Baloch, Thomas John and Noorul Hassan Tanveer.
- Image Credit: Ashfaq Ahmed/Gulf News
Dubai: Pakistanis in the UAE have reacted with shock and grief to the assassination of Benazir Bhutto and described her demise as a national tragedy.
Gulf News spoke to, among others, some staunch Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) supporters in Dubai who strengthened her cause during her eight years in the emirate.
Most expatriates held President Pervez Musharraf responsible for failing to provide adequate security to Bhutto and demanded his resignation.
"She was our sister and the voice of the poor people of Pakistan," said senior PPP leader Syed Sajjad Shah.
For PPP leader Mian Muneer Hans, Bhutto's assassination was "the worst national loss ever".
"We appeal to our people to be united against the cruel forces working against the country," he said.
Chaudhry Zubair Bashir, a PPP supporter, said the government had failed in its duty to provide security to Bhutto. "She was a great leader and will live in our hearts forever," he said.
Sardar Javed Yaqoob, a senior PPP leader in Dubai, called it a cruel act of terrorism against a leader who had launched a struggle for democracy.
"I think the federation of Pakistan is at risk because she was the only one who was keeping the four provinces bound together. Today, we resolve to continue her struggle for democracy and to alleviate poverty," he said.
Munawar Ahmad said Bhutto had sacrificed her life for the people of Pakistan. "She knew what was in store for her but she took the risk and decided to go back," he added.
Qasim Baloch, a PPP supporter from Balochistan, recalled how Bhutto had always upheld rights of the people of Balochistan. "We condemn her killing and seek immediate action against the culprits," he said.
Rashid Chugtai, who worked closely with Bhutto in Dubai, said: "We have become orphans now, with no one left to protect the rights of the poor and downtrodden in Pakistan."
Syed Akhtar Hussain spoke of his association with the PPP since the late Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto's period. "Bhutto was a great leader and she was the hope for a better future for the country, but now we don't know what will happen. May Allah save our country," he said.
Abdul Nabi Bangash, leader of the Awami National Party (ANP), blamed the government for the assassination. "They should accept responsibility because they failed to protect a national leader," he said.
Chaudhry Noorul Hassan Tanveer, chief coordinator of the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) for Middle East strongly condemned Bhutto's murder and linked it to the negligence of the security and intelligence apparatus.
"Better security measures would have avoided this tragedy and national loss," he added.
Riaz Farooq, president of the Pakistan Association in Dubai, said the community in the UAE was in a state of shock. "We request our brothers back home to stop violence and be united against the conspirators who are trying to destabilise our country," he said.
Thomas John, president of the Pakistan Christian Welfare Society, said it was the darkest day in the history of Pakistan.
"Bhutto was a great friend of minorities in the country and always protected their rights during her two stints as prime minister. The Christian community strongly condemns her killing," he said.
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