MULTAN: It was difficult to live and easy to die during his days in captivity, says Ali Haider Gilani, who returned home after three long years in captivity.
Accompanied by his father Yusuf Raza Gilani and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) supporters, the young Gilani said had it not been for the patience given by Allah Almighty, he would have died.
“It was very difficult to live there. But it was easy to die. I thank Allah Almighty for giving me the courage and patience to bear what was before me,” Ali Gilani said outside his residence here.
He thanked the US-Afghan forces for their support. “Before I complete, I have one final message for the perpetrators. My father’s name is Yusuf Raza Gilani and my name is Ali Haider Gilani and we have not learnt to live in fear.” Gilani was abducted from Multan three years ago from an election rally that was being conducted for his brother Abdul Qadir Gilani. He was stopped on the way to a meeting and shots were fired at his driver and guard. The driver was killed and Ali Gilani was taken hostage.
Six days ago, Afghan Ambassador Mohammad Hanif Atmar told former prime minister Yusuf Raza Gilani over the phone that his son had been safely recovered in a successful operation conducted by the forces of the United States and Afghanistan.
Celebrations kicked off when Ali Gilani stepped out of his car at his residence. Followers, supporters and workers of the PPP gathered to see Ali Gilani, with wreaths and bouquets in their hands, wide smiles on their faces and prayers for him on their lips.
Besides party workers, local people of Multan celebrated his arrival. Several old and young people were seen with tear-filled eyes, cheering and praying for him and his family. They were raising slogans in support of him and his family and thanking Allah Almighty for his safe return.
An 80-year-old came forward and tried to touch young Gilani’s feet, as per the tradition of the area, to show respect and affection. Gilani held him by his arms midway and pulled him into an embrace. The elderly man burst into tears and started praying for Gilani’s long life and his family’s safety and success.
Talking to reporters, the old man said that he became emotional on seeing Ali Gilani because his father Yusuf Raza Gilani and elder brother Abdul Qadir Gilani had always been a source of support to him and his family. Even when he (Ali Gilani) was in captivity, he said, the Gilani family did not ignore their people. He said that he received all kinds of help from the Gilani family and he was grateful for that.
An elderly woman explained how the Gilani family had been supporting and helping the people of Multan. The Gilani family helped her at the time of her daughter’s wedding when Yusuf Gilani was the prime minister. She said that Gilanis never forgot their people and they were always out to help them regardless of their political affiliations.
Ali Gilani was delighted to meet his supporters and well-wishers and see the love and affection of the locals. He was seen wiping his tears at times too. In his brief statement, he said that he would continue to serve his people with more dedication.
