New alliances: Gardezi family joins PPP, Qasim moves to PML-Q

New alliances: Gardezi family joins PPP, Qasim moves to PML-Q By Our Correspondent Published: December 25, 2012 Wattoo says that Mehmood’s efforts in south Punjab and his own in central Punjab will produce a surprise result for the party in the elections. PHOTO: NNI LAHORE: The Gardezi family from Bahawalpur announced their decision to join Pakistan Peoples Party on Tuesday and vowed to give their opponents a run for their money in the upcoming elections. Former PML-N MPAs Syed Salman Gardezi and Syed Irfan Ahmed Gardezi joined the PPP. Sajid Hussain Bukhari, the former tehsil nazim of Bahawalpur, also left the PML-N to join the PPP on Tuesday. The three men held a press conference at the Governor’s House with PPP Central Punjab President Mian Manzor Ahmed Wattoo and other senior leaders of the party. Wattoo said the PPP welcomed the newly appointed Governor Makhdoom Ahmed Mehmood. He said Mehmood was a seasoned politician who would strengthen the party in south Punjab. Wattoo said the gates of the Governor’s House would be open to the PPP’s workers. He said the PPP would gradually show its cards as it got closer to the election.He said Mehmood’s efforts in south Punjab and his own in central Punjab will produce a surprise result for the party in the elections. Sources within the PML-N said the Gardezi family had joined the PPP because their rival, MNA Riaz Hussain Pirzada, had joined PML-N. According to a PML-Q press release, former PML-N ticket holder from PP-22 Chakwal Pir Nisar Qasim has joined PML-Q along with many of his supporters. Qasim expressed complete confidence in the leadership of Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and Chaudhry Parvez Elahi. Describing Elahi’s term as chief minister as a golden era for the Punjab, he said now the province had been rendered bankrupt by the PML-N, crime had increased, the Sharif brothers refused to listen to their own parliamentarians. He said most PML-N members of the assemblies were unhappy and many PML-N parliamentarians would quit the party once elections were announced. Elahi said with Qasim joining the PML-Q, the party would become even stronger in Chakwal. Published in The Express Tribune, December 26th, 2012. =========== Two PML-N MNAs among three Jehlum politicians jump over to PPP By Web Desk Published: January 20, 2013 Raja Afzal (C) announcing his decision to join PPP flanked by senior PPP leaders Feryal Talpur (L) and Khurshid Shah (R). PHOTO: MOHAMMAD NOMAN/EXPRESS KARACHI: The pulling and pushing between political parties for the best candidates continues with two Members of National Assembly of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) announcing on Saturday that they were joining the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Express News reported. Former MNA and Senator Raja Afzal along with his two sons MNAs Raja Asad and Raja Safdar announced their decision to join the PPP in a press conference at Bilawal House on Saturday evening after a meeting with PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari. Speaking on this occasion‚ PPP leader and women’s wing head Faryal Talpur said that the PPP was a large party and number of political leaders wanted to join it before the elections. Senior PPP leader and federal minister for religious affairs Khurshid Shah was also present for the announcement. =========== Punjab governor’s sons have joined PPP: Gilani By Web Desk Published: January 20, 2013 File photo of Punjab Governor Makhdoom Ahmed Mehmood. PHOTO: EXPRESS/ FILE RAHIM YAR KHAN: Three sons of Punjab Governor Makhdoom Ahmed Mehmood have joined Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), announced former prime minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on Sunday, reported Express News. Addressing a rally in Rahim Yar Khan along with the Punjab governor, Gilani welcomed Murtaza Mehmood, Mustafa Mehmood and Ali Mehmood to the party. Murtaza is an MPA, while Mustafa is an MNA. Makhdoom Ahmed Mehmood earlier belonged to Pakistan Muslim League ­– Functional (PML-F) but had resigned from the party when President Asif Ali Zardari offered him the post of the governor. The governor, addressing the rally later, claimed that he did not need any protocol as he was the peoples’ governor. He said that the doors of the Governor House are always open for the people of Punjab. “I promise you that the current government will give power to you to help you get developed,” he told the people. ============= Bahawalpur province: ‘Makhdooms and Gilanis cannot decide our fate’ By Kashif Zafar Published: January 23, 2013 Nawab Salahuddin Abbasi said the BNAP had supported the PPP after late Benazir Bhutto promised to create a Bahawalpur province. PHOTO: AFP/FILE BAHAWALPUR: “We will not let any Gilani or Makhdoom determine the fate of Bahawalpur province,” Nawab Salahuddin Abbasi, leader of the Bahawalpur National Awami Party (BNAP), said on Tuesday. He was addressing a press conference at the house of party’s President Muhammad Farooq Azam Malik. Abbasi said the BNAP had supported the PPP after late Benazir Bhutto promised to create a Bahawalpur province. He said now that the PPP had almost completed its tenure, it was backing out from the commitment. He said he had declined an offer to be made governor and change his stance. The nawab said that Governor Makhdoom Ahmad Mehmood had made a two-and-a-half-month deal with the government and betrayed the people of Bahawalpur. “We will not let them add Multan and Dera Ghazi Khan to the Bahawalpur province.” The nawab said that the government could neither deceive the people of Bahawalpur nor force them to change their perspectives and compromise. He said the BNAP will participate in the upcoming general elections. He said the Sharif Brothers should live up to their commitment and play their role in the creation of the Bahawalpur province. He hoped that they would not betray the people as the PPP had. The nawab claimed that before Mehmood, the PPP had offered him the Punjab governorship. But, he said, he had refused to make any deal that would require him to compromise the rights of the people of Bahawalpur. He said his party’s demands were legitimate and that they would not stop until the Bahawalpur province was created. He said the party would also reject any changes made in the recommendations of the commission formed to creation new provinces. The nawab announced that he will stand for two National Assembly seats from Bahawalpur and one from Rahim Yar Khan. Former federal minister and BNAP President Muhammad Farooq Azam Malik said that the issue of creating the Bahawalpur province was completely different from the creation of other provinces. “There is no problem with our boundaries and resources. Mehmood’s father, Makhdoom Hassan Mahmood, had served as chief minister of Bahawalpur state before it was disbanded in 1956. Published in The Express Tribune, January 23rd, 2013. ====== Zulfiqar Khosa's son joins PPP By Web Desk Published: January 23, 2013 A file photo of Saifuddin Khosa. PHOTO: EXPRESS ISLAMABAD: Son of Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) senior leader Sardar Zulfiqar Khosa joined Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) on Wednesday. Saifuddin Khosa made the announcement during a press conference in Islamabad with other PPP leaders. While speaking to media, Saifuddin said he was positive about serving the country well while being a part of the PPP. ========

30 dead, 35 injured in Chakwal Imambargah suicide blast

Updated at: 1515 PST, Sunday, April 05, 2009
CHAKWAL: At least 22 persons died and several were injured at the Imambargah suicide bombing here.


One killer blew himself up with explosives during annual Majlis Aza being held at the Imambargah located in the centre of the town at Mohala Sarpak of City police station area. The blast ripped apart the bodies of the faithful at the Imambargah, leaving a horrific scene of scattered body parts and blood all around the incident site.

Eyewitnesses said that following a Majlis, the faithful had crowded the main gate of the Imambargah, while those entering into the Imambargah were being frisked, when a youth 16/17 year old during checking blew himself up, which resulted in on the spot death of 20 persons, while the other two succumbed to their injuries in hospital. Four children were also included among the dead, they said.

The bodies and the injured were shifted to the Chakwal District Headquarter Hospital, while some injured were sent to Rawalpindi.

Ambulances from Rawalpindi and Jhelum reached the scene of incident and stated relief operations. High police officials, DCO and heavy contingents of police also arrived following the blast. The police besieging the area have collected the evidences.

Several vehicles were also damaged in the blast. Large number of people had thronged the hospital for finding out the welfare of their relatives, while the town remains drowned in an environment of mourning.


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24 dead, 35 injured in Chakwal Imambargah suicide blast
Updated at: 1545 PST, Sunday, April 05, 2009
CHAKWAL: At least 24 persons died and 35 were injured at the Imambargah suicide bombing here.

One killer blew himself up with explosives during annual Majlis Aza being held at the Imambargah located in the centre of the town at Mohala Sarpak of City police station area. The blast ripped apart the bodies of the faithful at the Imambargah, leaving a horrific scene of scattered body parts and blood all around the incident site.

Eyewitnesses said that following a Majlis, the faithful had crowded the main gate of the Imambargah, while those entering into the Imambargah were being frisked, when a youth 16/17 year old during checking blew himself up, which resulted in on the spot death of 20 persons, while the other four succumbed to their injuries in hospital. Four children were also included among the dead, they said.

The bodies and the injured were shifted to the Chakwal District Headquarter Hospital, while some injured were sent to Rawalpindi.

Ambulances from Rawalpindi and Jhelum reached the scene of incident and stated relief operations. High police officials, DCO and heavy contingents of police also arrived following the blast. The police besieging the area have collected the evidences.

Several vehicles were also damaged in the blast. Large number of people had thronged the hospital for finding out the welfare of their relatives, while the town remains drowned in an environment of mourning.


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چکوال کے غلام رضا کی کہانی

آصف فاروقی

بی بی سی اردو ڈاٹ کام، چکوال

چکوال

ٹکڑوں کی شکل میں ہسپتال آنے والی لاشوں کے لیے لکڑی کے تابوت کا بندوبست کیا جا رہا ہے

چکوال کے محلہ کوٹ گنیش کے اس کچے پکے گھر کے صحن میں جب غلام رضا کی لاش رکھی گئی تو پوری گلی میں جیسے کہرام مچ گیا۔ اتوار کی شام اس چھوٹے سے محلے کی تقریباً ہرگلی میں ایسا ہی شور تھا۔

علاقے کی سب سے بڑی امام بارگاہ کے سامنے چکوال کا یہ محلہ اہل تشیع کی بڑی تعداد کی وجہ سے مشہور ہے۔ جہاں چند گھر سنی مسلک سے تعلق رکھنے والوں کے بھی ہیں۔

گھر سے قریب ہونے کے باعث امام بارگاہ کے بیشترانتظامی امور اسی محلے کے نوجوان انجام دیتے تھے۔ صفائی ستھرائی، پانی کی سبیلیں، حفاظتی انتظامات وغیرہ۔ اور اتوار کی دوپہر ہونے والے خودکش حملے کے بعد سب سے زیادہ لاشیں بھی اس محلے میں لائی گئیں۔

بائیس سالہ غلام رضا کے بڑے بھائی نے دو کمروں پر مشتمل اپنے گھر کے کچے صحن میں اپنے بھائی کی لاش کے سرہانے بیٹھ کر بی بی سی کو بتایا کہ امام بارگاہ محلہ سر پاک کی صفائی کرنا ہمارا آبائی کام ہے۔ ’ہمارے والد صاحب بھی اسی امام بارگاہ میں جھاڑو دار تھے اور ہم چاروں بھائی بھی شوق کی خاطر یہی کام کرتے ہیں‘۔

گلفام نے اپنے چھوٹے بھائی کی میت کی طرف اشارہ کر کے ڈبڈباتی آنکھوں سے کہا کہ ’ہم سے تو کبھی بھول چوک ہو جاتی تھی لیکن یہ ہمیشہ باقاعدگی سے اپنا کام کرتا رہا۔ آج بھی یہی بازی لے گیا‘

رضا خاندان تین بھائیوں اور تین بہنوں پر مشتمل ہے۔ دھماکے کے وقت پورا خاندان امام بارگاہ میں موجود تھا۔

گلفام نے بتایا کہ تینوں بھائی دیہاڑی پر محنت مزدوری کر کے اپنا گزارا کر رہے ہیں۔ غلام رضا کی ابھی شادی نہیں ہوئی تھی بلکہ ان کے بھائی کے بقول وہ ان کی شادی کی تاریخ طے کرنے کے لیے ان کی منگیتر کے گھر جانے کا پروگرام بنا رہے تھے۔’غلام رضا کام پر جائے یا نہ جائے، جھاڑو داری کے اپنے فرض سے کبھی غافل نہیں ہوا‘۔

میری زندگی میں اس علاقے کے سنی اور شیعہ مسالک کے درمیان کبھی جھگڑا بھی نہیں ہوا۔ پولیس محرم کے جلوس کے لیے حفاظتی اقدامات کرتی ہے لیکن وہ بھی رسمی ہو تے ہیں

جاوید شاہ

محلہ کوٹ گنیش کی تنگ گلیوں سے نکلیں تو بالکل سامنے وسیع و عریض مرکزی امام بارگاہ پڑتی ہے اور اس سے متصل اس سے بھی بڑا کھیلنے کا میدان ہے۔ اس میدان میں جگہ جگہ ٹولیوں کی شکل میں اہل محلہ اتوار کی شام تک بیٹھے اس نکتے پر بحث کرتے رہے تھے کہ علاقے میں کئی دہائیوں سے قائم شیعہ اور سنی مسالک کے افراد کے درمیان دوستی اور احترام کے رشتے کو کس کی نظر لگ گئی؟

ساٹھ سالہ جاوید شاہ کا کہنا تھا کہ یہ کارروائی انہی لوگوں نے کی ہے جو پورے ملک میں دہشت گردی پھیلا رہے ہیں۔انہوں نے کہا کہ ’میری زندگی میں اس علاقے کے سنی اور شیعہ مسالک کے درمیان کبھی جھگڑا بھی نہیں ہوا۔ پولیس محرم کے جلوس کے لیے حفاظتی اقدامات کرتی ہے لیکن وہ بھی رسمی ہو تے ہیں‘۔

اما بارگاہ کے حفاظتی انتاظامات کے انچارج تحسین نے کہا کہ علاقے کے سنی لوگ بھی اس سانحے پر اتنے ہی رنجیدہ ہیں جتنے کہ شیعہ آبادی۔ ’یہ لوگ ہمارے شہیدوں کے لیے قبریں تیار کر رہے ہیں، ہمارے جنازوں کو کندھا دے رہے ہیں اور ہمارے زخمیوں کے لیے خون دے رہے ہیں۔ ایسے میں کون مانے گا کہ یہ واردات فرقہ وارنہ ہے‘۔ تحسین کے مطابق یہ کام انہی ’طالبان نما‘ عناصر کا ہے جو حکومت پر دباؤ ڈالنے کے لیے پاکستانی قوم پر ظلم کر رہے ہیں تاکہ وہ حکومت کے خلاف اٹھ کھڑے ہوں۔

اسی قسم کے جذبات چکوال کے سب سے بڑے سول ہسپتال کی راہداریوں میں بھی سننے کو ملے جہاں لواحقین اپنے زخمی مریضوں کے سرہانے کھڑے اس سانحے کی وجوہات پر اپنی اپنی رائے کا اظہار کر تے نظر آئے۔

ہسپتال کے شعبہ حادثات کے صدر دروازے کے سامنے چارپائیوں اور لکڑی کے تابوتوں میں امام بارگاہ میں ہلاک ہونے والوں کی لاشیں رکھی ہوئی ہیں جہاں سے انہیں لواحقین کے حوالے کیا جا رہا ہے۔

ساتھ ہی ایک دیوار پر لگے نوٹس بورڈ پر یہ تحریر ہاتھ سے لکھ کر چسپاں کی گئی ہے۔’لواحقین اپنی لاشیں وصول کرنے کے بعد چیک کر لیں اگر ان کے اعضاء پورے نہ ہوں تو ہسپتال انتظامیہ سے رابطہ کیا جائے‘۔

یہ تحریر بتا رہی تھی کہ اس ہسپتال میں لاشیں کس حالت میں لائی گئی ہوں گی۔ اسی ضمن میں مزید معلوم کرنے پر بتایا گیا کہ جو لاشیں درست حالت میں تھیں انہیں چارپائیاں مہیا کی گئی ہیں جبکہ ٹکڑوں کی شکل میں ہسپتال آنے والی لاشوں کے لیے لکڑی کے تابوت کا بندوبست کیا جا رہا ہے۔

محلہ کوٹ گنیش کا غلام رضا اس لحاظ سے ’خوش قسمت‘ تصور کیا جائیگا کہ اس کی لاش چارپائی پر لائی گی ہے جبکہ محلے میں آنے والی بیشتر لاشیں تابوتوں میں ہی بند نظر آئیں