Bengalis help Musharraf pull off a show
It was interesting to note that former president and leader of the All Pakistan Muslim League (APML) Pervez Musharraf began his telephonic speech at the rally in Karachi with the issues facing the largely politically untapped Bengalis living in the city.
“I believe the Bengalis living in this country are patriotic Pakistanis and whatever issues they are facing regarding their citizenship [eg ID cards] will be resolved,” he said to a cheering crowd at the ground next to the Quaid-e-Azam’s mausoleum.
Unlike the PTI rally on December 25, which attracted a wide section of urban Karachiites, the APML rally wore a rural look. Although the president of the Pakistani-Bengali Ittehad claimed that more than 15,000 Bengalis participated in the rally alone, independent observers believe that the rally was attended by not more than 20,000 people. Musharraf himself conceded that the rally “was not a tsunami but an earthquake”.
Among others who attended the rally in notable numbers were people from rural Sindh, Gilgit-Baltistan and Punjab. Bengalis arrived in large numbers from various areas of the city to attend the telephonic speech of Musharraf.
Earlier, in a short speech, President Pakistan-Bengali Ittehad Mohammed Salman announced joining the APML. The Ittehad is a social organisation representing Bengalis in various areas of the city, including Moosa Colony, Taseer Town, Teen Hatti, Zia-ul-Haq Colony, Machar Colony, Ayesha Manzil and Ibrahim Hyderi.
It is estimated that more than 2.5 million Bengalis live in Karachi mostly employed as menial labourers or micro-entrepreneurs. The officials of the Pakistan-Bengali Ittehad claimed more than 15,000 people participated in the APML jalsa from Bengali-dominated areas.
“This was the first time a Bengali actually spoke from the podium at a mass rally in the city. It is a matter of great honor,” said Salman. “Bengalis are mostly poor daily wagers; all we want is to live with dignity in this city. We are living in this country for the past 40 years.”
While talking to the News, a majority of the participants nostalgically talked about the “good old times” when in Musharraf’s tenure inflation was relatively less daunting and employment prospects brighter. As one participant said: “He is tried and tested”.
While the crowd was waving the APML flag, the leadership at the stage kept warming them up with speeches. It was interesting to see that the salvo of slogans the speakers hurled at the crowd missed the mark many a time, as the crowd was not sure of the right retort - which is one of the unmistakable features of a new party.
It was also noted that while talking about the development projects that he initiated in Karachi, when Musharraf thanked Sindh Governor Ishratul Ebad and former mayor of Karachi Mustafa Kamal, many in the crowd roared and shouted slogans of “Jiye Altaf”.
As a large crowd of Bengalis were attending Musharraf’s rally, hundreds of them rallied on MA Jinnah Road under the banner of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement to demand a dignified status in the city.
The protesters, who belonged to the Pakistani Bengalis’ Action Committee, demanded that the issues regarding their status should be immediately resolved.
Bengalis help Musharraf pull off a show
