PPP to take democracy forward: Sherry Rehman
'Pakistan Times' Political Desk

KARACHI: Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Ms Sherry Rehman Saturday said it is a specialty of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) that its leadership and activists never hesitate to come face to face with a dictator.

Sherry Rehman was addressing a public gathering held at Pakistan Chowk here.

She said besides the fact that PPP was the party of people including farmers, minorities and women, it is a specialty of the party that its workers and leaders never hesitate to face a dictator.

The Information Minister said today “July 5”, is being marked on the streets in the metropolis, because we remember this day as a black day, when the democratic government was overthrown unconstitutionally.

She added the biggest democratic leader Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, was removed from power on July 5, but the great leader has not been erased from the hearts of the people.

Federal Information Minister also chanted the slogans “Zinda Hai Bibi, Zinda Hai, Zinda Hai Bhutto Zindai Hai” (Ms Benazir Bhutto and Zulfikar Ali Bhutto are alive).

Ms Sherry Rehman said today even small children, who never have seen Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto hold her photographs with esteem.

Speaking to the party activists and leaders, she said each of us is a Bhutto and under the party flag we will take democracy forward. She said the party has attained power because of the sacrifice rendered by Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto.

The Federal Information Minister said if the party flag is being seen in the power corridors, the party men should not assume that the people in the government have forgotten them, we are still with them, she re-assured.

She said we have come here to refresh the memory of sacrifice of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir and to remember the day of July 5, adding we will not let such a July-5 come again.

We pay great tributes to the party workers and leaders who rendered the sacrifice of their lives for it.

We always consider the entire Karachi as the heart of PPP, she noted.

The Federal Minister posed a question that who stands against bullets and replied that it is PPP workers.

The Information Minister said the people have come here with the demand for food, shelter and clothing, which is their legitimate right and it is also the manifesto and promise of PPP and it will surely be provided to them.

Sherry Rehman said that it was the promise of the party and we will fulfill the pledge of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto.

She said the party workers and people have waited for 12 years for this day and we understand their feelings.

It is necessary to meet the people and take up their valid demands and problems and it is our responsibility too, she said.

The Federal Information Minister said the PPP government has not entered the government through any back door, it has come through power of votes.

She said today she held an open katchery at Kemari and announced that an open katchery will also be organised here (Pakistan Chowk), to take up the problems of the people.

Our Federal Ministers will also hold open katcheries as problems confronting the masses will be resolved through open katcheries, she said.

She noted that it is the first government, whose Prime Minister has been elected unanimously by the National Assembly.

She recalled that out governments have been formed in all four provinces in same way and it is the politics of reconciliation for which Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto sacrificed her life.

Speaking about achievements of targets by the government in accordance with its 100-days programme, she said on the very first day, the Prime Minister announced in the National Assembly about restoration of labour unions and that justice will be done with everyone.

She added media and women rights are restored as the black laws of November 3, have been removed from the media.

Sherry Rehman also said an announcement has also been made that the government land will be allotted in the names of women as whenever any allotment will be made, it will be done in the names of our mothers, sisters and daughters.

Sherry Rehman recalled that the minimum wage has also been raised from Rs 4000 to Rs 6000 while 20 percent increase in salaries of the government employees has also been announced.

A “Benazir Income Support Fund” has also been established with an amount of Rs 50 billion, which has never been done in the past by any government, she said.

The Information Minister termed the inflation as a gift left by the previous government. She said the voice of the down-trodden people will be raised by Pakistan People’s Party.

Sherry Rehman said she has received a request for a public meeting which Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto had announced to organise in Lyari.

The Minister announced that Inshallah next public meeting will be held in Lyari.

She said the elected government of the people has started planning ways to overcome the shortage of electricity and provide jobs to the people.

She vowed that the elected government will not only provide employment, resolve the problems of masses but also take Pakistan towards a bright future and prosperity.

Earlier, the Advisor to Sindh CM, Rashid Hussain Rabbani, Special Assistant to CM Waqar Mehdi, President PPP Karachi Division Syed Faisal Raza Abidi also spoke. ●