Murad terms instigator of May 9 actions ‘real culprit’

A "Pegham-e-Aman" conference was organised in Karachi by the Information Department of the Government of Sindh on Thursday to pay homage to the martyrs of the nation.

Addressing the ceremony, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah said May 9 is the day when a conspiracy was made to divide the nation. The enemies of the country always conspire against this beloved nation. Eventually, they found one person to execute the conspiracy, and then the conspiracy started to unfold, said the CM.

However, the nation of Pakistan thwarted the conspiracy with unity and solidarity, he said and mentioned that the country's first democratically elected prime minister, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, was martyred on April 4, 1979. Over this tragedy, workers set themselves on fire, and PPP activists were flogged, yet they persisted in raising slogans in support of Bhutto.

The CM mentioned that when the Pakistan Peoples Party government came into power in 1988 and Benazir Bhutto became the prime minister, people anticipated that she would seek revenge, causing concern and fear among her opponents. However, during her address to the US Congress on June 7, 1989, Benazir Bhutto famously stated that "democracy is the best revenge”.

Benazir Bhutto herself was martyred in front of the entire nation by the enemies of the country on December 27, 2007. On that fateful day, the entire country had been in turmoil, and amidst the chaos, President Asif Zardari raised the slogan of "Pakistan Khappe”.

The CM highlighted that on the one hand, there are leaders who guide the nation towards unity, showing political and conscious leadership that prioritises the security of the country. On the contrary, there are those who promote hatred and division among the people. He emphasised that the events of May 9 were driven by a significant conspiracy, which he strongly condemned.

He emphasised that as heirs to the country's martyrs, it is their duty to ensure the country's safety for as long as they lived. “Despite numerous arrests of our leadership, leaders, and workers, including the wrongful arrest and martyrdom of the founder of the Pakistan Peoples Party, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, and the repeated arrests of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto, Asif Ali Zardari, Faryal Talpur, and Sharjeel Inam Memon, we have never advocated the idea of harming the country. Our protests have always been peaceful and will continue to be so,” said the CM. Peaceful protest is an integral part of democracy, but any action that harms the country constitutes treason.

Shah highlighted that on July 5, 1999, the nation had lost Shaheed Captain Colonel Sher Khan, marking it a tragic day. He recounted Captain Colonel Sher Khan's remarkable bravery, recalling how he bravely faced two divisions of the Indian Army in Siachen, defeating all enemy soldiers but sacrificing his life in the process. Even the Indian commander acknowledged Captain Colonel Sher Khan's valour. However, it is disheartening that miscreants mutilated the statue of the martyred Captain Colonel Sher Khan in Mardan.

While those directly involved are accountable, the real culprit is the one who instigated such actions, and they should face the consequences, Shah said. He emphasised that there can be no justification for colluding with enemies to sow division within the country. He mentioned that on May 9, there were incidents of arson and unrest in Karachi. Despite this, our forces remained steadfast in their efforts to maintain peace.

He commended the dedication and hard work of the police, Rangers, and all law enforcement agencies involved in restoring and maintaining peace. Speaking at the event, Senior Minister for Information Sharjeel Inam Memon said that May 9 is being commemorated as Peace Day by the Government of Sindh. He emphasised the message is that Pakistan is a peaceful and peace-loving nation, aiming to convey this sentiment to the world.

He remarked that on this day last year, regrettably, a few anarchists had attempted to tarnish the culture of peace in the country. “They misled our young generation, attempting to lead them astray towards path of chaos and violence,” he said.

Memon emphasised that despite the judicial murder of our leader Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, the PPP never resorted to violence. Despite the tragic loss of Shaheed Bibi, President Asif Ali Zardari rallied behind the slogan of Pakistan Khappe. Even after the martyrdom of his mother, young Bilawal Bhutto Zardari echoed the slogan that democracy is the best revenge.

He highlighted that on May 9 last year, a well-thought-out conspiracy unfolded to incite chaos among the youth. The entire nation witnessed preplanned riots, with incidents such as the burning of the Quaid-e-Azam's residence and the desecration of martyrs' memorials. Karachi saw buses set ablaze while ambulances were torched in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Such acts of violence, unprecedented in Pakistan's history, were detrimental to the country and its future generations.

The information minister pointed out that during Imran Khan's arrest in Lahore, the Punjab police faced attacks with petrol bombs. He questioned why those who committed such acts, like those in Capitol Hill, received 18-year sentences in the United States, while similar actions here had been treated leniently. He emphasised that the fault lies not with the imprisoned youth but with their mentors. Memon urged parents to guide their children on distinguishing between right and wrong influences.

He emphasised that presently, both the Sindh government and the PPP share the same message: unity. He stressed the importance of protecting every aspect of the country and prioritising the honour and respect of our soldiers and martyrs.

On this occasion, the heirs of the martyrs expressed their hope for the PTI founder to apologise and embark on a new journey towards progress for the country. The heirs of the martyrs affirmed the accuracy of Memon's remarks. A minute of silence was observed during the ceremony as a tribute to the national martyrs.

Provincial ministers Syed Nasir Shah, Zia Ul Hasan Lanjar, Haji Ali Hasan Zardari, Saeed Ghani, Zulfiqar Shah, Sardar Shah, Syed Qasim Naveed Qamar, Deputy Mayor Salman Murad, Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah, provincial secretaries, Sindh IGP Ghulam Nabi Memon, Karachi police chief Khadim Hussain Rind, and others were present at the ceremony.