"66 days with My Kaptaan" Today is the 66th day since I am here and part of the historic struggle. I was destined to be at this Dharna consistently. I assert this as over the years, I have had many options to leave the city and move out, but nature contrived positively to keep me here. Initially, I was not sure about the intense need of attending the dharna, But slowly, it became clear to me that it was not some run-of-the-mill political / election campaign. I have finally realized that its an awakening/Social/Political awareness campaign when I witnessed the start of struggle against the VIP culture by offloading 2 VIPs from a plane. The more it will go on, It will shift / inject more freedom in people's minds. Go Nawaz Go is not a slogan against a specific person, it has become the voice of the oppressed against the corrupt ruling elite which this nation is facing for more than six decades. India had their hero Nehru alive for good amount of time after their freedom to make sure the powers be shifted to common man to some good extant. We have been enslaved & divided consistently in the name of religion, ethnicity & sects - this has happened through a very well organised campaign. Every now and then we see different kind of fights in our society, Sometimes Shia/Sunni, Sometimes Urdu speaking/Punjabi/Pathan/Balooch/Sindhi, Sometimes through TTP. Somehow every time these players judge our threshold by igniting violence according to their requirements and making sure to keep this country on continuous downward spiral. The numbers of the oppressed have increased drastically that these corrupt elite got caught in their own game of power. Imran Khan has put the breaks on at this malicious looting spree of status Quo by mobilizing the masses from lower, middle & upper middle class. I am not sure if Imran Khan will be alive or Chairman of PTI at the time of a complete visible change, but he has initiated & placed the first brick of a solid nation building. Whenever I feel less motivated, I recall two precious moments in these 66 days: 1) The late night speech of Imran Khan on 15th Aug in heavy rain at around 3:30 AM. 2) The night of 31st Aug. Fighting against the brutality of police & at times when we felt exhausted and backed off few yards back. At those moments I can't forget the words of Khan "Mere Nowjawano"... And we rushed back towards the Container. Almighty has brought us this far, and it's not that long remaining when we will achieve our aim and get true freedom for the nation! Its all about #Dignity #Faith & #Persistence!
Thursday, October 23, 2014
[Testimonial by Wasim Wazir on #AzadiSquare Movement]
[Testimonial by Hira Maher on Sargodha Jalsa]
[Testimonial by Hira Maher on Sargodha Jalsa] Karachi, Lahore, Mianwali, Multan and now Sargodha, the city of eagles also witnessed a historical Jalsa. People showed their support for Khan and broke all the shackles of fear and slavery. I was so excited to attend the Jalsa in my hometown. The journey which started dating back 13th August from Zaman Park, Lahore towards Islamabad. Now this arduous anti-government and anti-status quo protest is not confined to a single place, as the man of steel is disseminating his message all around the country from one corner to another. He assimilated the scattered masses under shared common goals because, his purpose is not to capture the power but to wake up the nation. The preparations started 2 days before Jalsa, I observed an ebullient and cheerful crowd on the night of 16 October in the ground of the stadium. They were enlightening candles and praying for the safety of people. The stage was all set for 17 October as our very own leader had his eye on arrangements in order to ward off any unpleasant situation with the help of city administration. Finally, we witnessed a PTI Jalsa with best stage management, security and rescue teams and a squad of 40 doctors were also there to take on any exigency and to tackle ambiguity. Six doors of the stadium were opened. I entered through one secured for women opposite to the backyard of Sargodha university after the screening process due to the security reasons. Basically, Sargodha is a city of jutt clans surrounded by large numbers of villages. They don't allow their women to attend such political events and gathering quite often, but a mass exodus of women from their house was enough to say. This is called “TABDEELI”. People of all classes were there, from poor to mediocre, from mediocre to opulent. They came to support Imran Khan for the sake of the betterment of their country, for the sake of their own rights and for the bright future of their children. Well, who says that PTI is mainly a party of youths. I saw people of every age group from a few months to 80 to 90 years old. I would like to mention two avid and elderly women supporters of round about 85 years old. They draped their shoulders with PTI flags. Their painted faces and a hope for Naya Pakistan were delineating an utterly optimistic image. People love their leader no matter what caste and creed they belonged to, they were there to show their love and support for Imran Khan. Everyone was vehemently active and energetic to welcome Khan, and then Imran Khan came with the same spark in his eyes. An unflinching determination and hope as he never gives up. While reaching on stage, he beckoned to the entire crowd. After the speeches of representatives, Sheikh Rasheed and Shah Mehmood Qureshi addressed to the jam packed stadium of Sargodha. They encouraged peasants and talked about their due rights. Shah Mehmood Qureshi invigorated farmers with the Slogan of "Jiyoooooo Jutaaaaaa" Enthusiastic stalwarts of PTI were anxiously waiting to hear their leader while chanting the slogan of “Go Nawaz Go”. Khan took over the charge of the podium, He started his speech with the name of Allah Almighty as he always does, then he thanked Sargodhians for their massive support and for such a historic crowd. In his speech Khan talked about the rights of poor people. They can't even pay for their basic rights let alone the hefty electricity bills. He expressed his concern about education that, how quality education is important for every child, especially for girls-the nation builders. As always, he was very lucid in expressing his viewpoints. He wants to pull the nation out of the quagmire. People may have different opinion, but ostensibly every sagacious and wise person knows that Khan is very conspicuous in his every single stance. We have seen a dream of making Naya Pakistan, where we can practice equal justice for all. And that day we promised Khan to speak the truth and yes, earth is the witness. Like many others I also want my children to be born in Naya Pakistan. The one we are going to make under the leadership of khan. Well, seems like PTI is infused into the mind of every sensible person. Whenever I go to somewhere and ask people for their party affiliation, upon finding someone with same status quo parties. I feel sorry for their slave minds like they are doing an injustice to themselves and their generations to come. And that day is not so far away when this condition of servitude will prevail no more. One can see a perceptible incline in public confidence towards him and that's his real victory. Yes, once again Khan won our hearts. Shaheen stood against VIP, against the status quo, against Badshahat and against the dynasty. The momentous evening was ended with the National Anthem. While leaving the ground I was thinking we must say thanks to God for his accolade. He is indeed a great leader and its an irrefutable fact! After coming back to home, I was so much obsessed with this song "Muskarata rahta hon, Duniya sy mai kahta hon...." It was such a gracious experience for me and then the day ended up with a contented smile on a lot of faces. And yes, don’t forget to say Naya Pakistannnnnnn Inshallahhhh!
Wednesday, October 22, 2014
Tuesday, October 21, 2014
[Testimonial on #AzadiSquare Movement by Sajida Baloch]
[Testimonial on #AzadiSquare Movement by Sajida Baloch] Another day comes to an end at Azadi Sqaure and I come back home feeling satisfied that I am part of this Azadi Movement, the movement which is going to change Pakistan forever for me and my coming generations. Like many, I have been supporting Imran Khan since childhood. I remember when I was a child and used to mimic Imran Khan’s speech in front of my family. I still remember when I used to tell them that only brave leader Imran Khan is going to save Pakistan and think for its betterment. Many of them used to mock me that I am supporting a party who can never form government but I always used to believe in my captain. 30th October, 2011 was one of the happiest days of my life when my captain was accepted as a major political force by everyone in country. Party kept growing; my belief in him kept getting stronger. I saw him doing party elections, giving party tickets, best election campaign ever and then unfortunately falling down. I attended the final Jalsa in Islamabad on 9th May night and voted for Bat on 11th May, 2013 for our dreams to be fulfilled. NA48 got vacant and my most favorite PTI leader Asad Umar was candidate from here. I campaigned for him and when he won I was really happy that he will represent me in national assembly. Next few months, as the evidence kept emerging, we came to know how this election was most rigged election in Pakistan’s history. Imran Khan tried to get justice from election tribunals, ECP, parliament and SCP. When all failed, he started public gatherings and finally he announced the Azadi March towards Islamabad on 14th August, 2014, my very own city. Excitement and passion reached peak high waiting for the day. On 14th August, he left Lahore. We kept waiting for him here in Islamabad and Imran Khan after getting historic welcomes in different cities on his way reached Islamabad between 15th and 16th August, night. Probably for the first time in Pakistan’s history, a leader delivered speech at Fajar time in full rain. The last 65 days of the longest Sit-In of World’s history has changed Pakistan forever. I go to the Azadi Dharna at least 4 or 5 times a week. Every day, I go to my job in morning and the events of previous night and the coming night keeps on exciting me. I come back from my work in the evening and start getting ready to go to Azadi Square. One day I wear caps and bands, the other day I wear Imran Khan’s kurta and some other day I wear red and green color. Most special are the weekends when majority of Islamabad and Rawalpindi is there. The separate enclosure for women at the Dharna makes it really comfortable for all of us to come daily and feel like a family. I have met many of my friends from twitter at the Azadi Square. Security team of PTI does a wonderful job there. We have celebrated women’s day, 50 days anniversary, youth day and even Eid here. Announcements of Faisal Javed Khan, speeches of Murad Saeed, Sheikh Rasheed, Shah Mahmood Qureshi and different PTI leaders keep the atmosphere full of passion. Dj Butt and PTI anthems keep me and the crowd charged. Every day after work and attending Dharna, I get tired but the speeches and stamina of Imran Khan keeps me and thousands other fresh. All these 65 days, I have seen Imran Khan leading us all from the front. From his first speech in Rain at fajar time to the youth day with all the social media volunteers, he has always been with us. I can never forget him sleeping at the top of container, getting wet in heavy rains, roaming around Azadi town among his supporters and doing daily speeches inspiring thousands at the site and millions around Pakistan. I can never forget the day when he led us to Parade Avenue speaking to all of us from top of the container. I can never forget when he took tear gas shelling along with all his supporters. His birthday and Eid celebrations with us will be part of my memory always. Despite all the criticism from opponents, has has been consistent on his stance for Insaf during the last 18 years. Today, he is stronger than ever. His message keeps on going everywhere and I have seen myself increasing people at Azadi Sqaure from all over Pakistan. I even met celebrities joining Imran Khan’s message especially mentionable are Hamza Ali Abbasi and Bilal Lashari. Despite all the criticism on women from our opponents, the women of Pakistan and especially Islamabad are standing with him stronger than ever. His belief in the women of Pakistan and that they are main part of this revolution makes us stronger and stronger. His belief in Allah makes me believe in him more and more. His teachings about speaking truth, being fearless, selfless and always standing with justice is making us all one nation. Status Quo is already feeling the pressure and that time is not far away when Imran Khan will take all these wickets. These 65 and coming days of Azadi Dharna will be part of my life always. I am so used to all this now. Sometimes I think that when “Go Nawaz Go” happens, what will be my activity in the evening? But then I see at the larger picture. Every night, when I come back home, I sleep with a relaxed mind, a happy mind. I tell myself that I am part of the movement which is changing Pakistan for generations to come. I tell myself that I am citizen of Islamabad. A city which was called dead is now the city where history is being written. Sometimes I get hopeless but when the tune of “Go Nawaz Go” comes in my mind, I smile and say “BuruNawazBuru” in Balochi language and sleep peacefully for a next exciting day at Azadi Square. Sajida Baloch
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