KARACHI: Mohtarama Miss Fatima Jinnah has issued the following message on the Id-ul-Fitr: “On this auspicious day I extend to all the Pakistanis and the Mussalmans all over the world my heartiest Id greetings. The holy month of Ramazan is over and today is an occasion for rejoicing. Unfortunately, this year our rejoicings are mingled with sorrow and grief. The families of those who have suffered during the recent disturbances in Karachi and those of the suffering students and those of victims of assassinations and murderous assaults cannot celebrate the Id, as they should have done. The journalists, the intellectuals and people of the country will mourn the gruesome murder of Mr Zamir Qureshi and extend sympathy with the bereaved family of the martyr of the freedom of the Press. The political and social workers of the country are shocked at the dastardly attack on the life of Mr Abdul Baqi Baluch, who is still in a serious condition. The nation as a whole is groaning under an oppressive system of Government. The situation in the country indicates that the struggle for the restoration of democracy in this land of ours will be hard and exacting.

“Corruption, which I wanted to root out from the country, has been employed as a weapon to put an obstacle in the way of the people of Pakistan regaining their lost glory and sovereignty. Coercion, intimidation, detentions, repression and suppression were all employed in a ruthless way to rob the people of their right to determine for themselves the incumbent of the highest exe­­cu­­tive office in the country.”

Published in Dawn, February 4th, 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play