Price of a Jiala

By Adnan Gill

If Benazir Bhutto’s infamous mad dash that covered 15 km in 15 minutes to the sanctuary of ‘Bilawal House’ wasn't demoralizing enough; if the mobbing of the reporters by the fame hungry PPP leaders like Jehangir Badar, Sherry Rehman and others, immediately after the bombings, wasn't embarrassing enough; if the stampeding bigwigs of PPP literally driving over the dead and injured party workers/Jialas in their luxury cars, as their injured Jialas cried for help, wasn't cruel enough; BB had to rub salt on the wounds of her Jialas by giving them Rs.5,000 (US $83 per head) for their pain and suffering. It cost more than Rs.5,000 to even pay one month’s rent for a barely livable dwelling in Karachi.

Benazir Bhutto's stinginess and sadistic disregard for the sacrifices of Jialas wasn't lost on anyone, even international media took a note of it.

One cannot put a figure on the ultimate sacrifice of a person, but BB’s niggard act of putting a price of piddly Rs.5,000 was the ultimate insult to her Jialas who didn't think twice before sacrificing their lives for her. Her stinginess and sadistic disregard for the sacrifices of Jialas wasn't lost on anyone, even international media took a note of it. The New York Times noticed,
“Flanked by security guards carrying automatic weapons, she waved to dozens of supporters as she left Jinnah Hospital after she handed out envelopes containing 5,000 rupees, or about $83, to the wounded.”

Even a 5th grade student can estimate the price BB put on her Jialas’ heads:
145 Martyred Jialas x Rs.5,000 = Rs.725,000 or $12,083
400 Injured Jialas x Rs.5,000 = Rs.2,000,000 or $33,333
Grand Total = Rs.2,725,000 or $45,416 (note: all figures are approximation)

Ms. Bhutto often travels to New York from Dubai in First-Class/Business-Class. A round trip costs roughly $8,500. Price she put on her Jialas’ heads, 5 round trips.

Ms. Bhutto has been widely seen wearing diamond studded designer fashion glasses. They are estimated to have cost around $10,000. Price she put on her Jialas’ heads, 4 1/2 such glasses.

Upon her much publicized trip to Pakistan, Ms. Bhutto rode in her Mercedes S600 luxury-car to the Dubai airport. A Mercedes S600 costs approx. $134,000. Price she put on her Jialas’ heads, 1/3 of a Mercedes S600.

Recently Ms. Bhutto returned to Dubai. Her husband picked her up from the airport in their Bentley luxury-car. A single Bentley costs at least $264,000. Price she put on her Jialas’ heads, 1/6 of a Bentley.

Ms. Bhutto owns a pink family villa fringed by palm trees in an upscale Emirates Hills (Dubai) neighborhood overlooking a lake and with a view to a golf course. Average price for a villa in Emirates Hills is said to be $6,000,000. Price she put on her Jialas’ heads, 1/35 of a luxury villa in Emirates Hills.

As BB recuperates in the luxury of her Dubai Villa, her jialas lay in the hospital beds wondering how they are going to feed their families.

True leaders stand tough in the face of adversity for their followers. An immortal leader fearlessly jumps in the fire to save his/her followers. However, an opportunist puts the price on his/her followers’ heads. Benazir Bhutto, a leader or an opportunist? You decide!

Asian Tribune http://www.asiantribune.com/index.php?q=node/8110
The Frontier Post http://www.thefrontierpost.com/News.aspx?ncat=le&nid=63