I have just returned to Karachi after participating in the six-day long march. I simply can`t believe that I was part of this historic event. It was phenomenal. Leaving Karachi as a big crowd, dancing in the streets of interior Sindh with jubilation, having `daal roti` on the roadside hotels, chanting anti-Musharraf slogans, bearing the scorching heat, distributing leaflets and being showered by rose petals by the people of Sindh and Punjab was a great experience.
But the most terrific thing happened in Rawalpindi and Islamabad. As I sat atop a bus, I can say without any doubt that half of Rawalpindi was on the streets and waving to us, throwing water bottles, juices and biscuits. I even saw two elderly ladies raising their hands and giving us blessings while tears were rolling down their cheeks. The scene at Islamabad Parade Ground was also spectacular. According to a reserved estimate, nearly two lakh people were there.
What if there wasn`t any dharna? It`s true that many participants were disappointed because of the decision of the lawyers` leaders to postpone the planned sit-in in front of Parliament House. It is also true that the decision to postpone the gherao without consulting the majority of participants was wrong. But what is more important is the fact that so many people came out on the streets. If only those in Parade Ground were above 200,000 in number then from Karachi to Islamabad, at least two million people must have welcomed us on the roads.
Coming together of so many people from all parts of the country for a common cause is fantastic. This kind of massive mobilization is unfound in the country`s history. This was truly an uplifting experience for a shattered society. Also, such a movement is not expected from what the West calls a `banana republic`. It is my understanding that each and every stratum of society was represented in the long march. We must not bow our heads in shame that Mr Musharraf is still in power but rather we should celebrate for the simple fact that we, the people, have enormous potential to effect a change in society.