The Old Lady and the Long March
The title of this post is inspired by Ernest Hemmingway’s classic novel ‘The Old Man and the Sea’. However its focus is the story of an old lady and her participance in the now legendary long march of last week. The ninety-year old Aziz Begum chose to stand tall for the cause despite her age, and so it goes old is gold.
Mumtaz Alvi of The News covered the story and it can be seen below:
Oldest participant of the ‘Long March’ By Mumtaz Alvi
Ninety-year-old Aziz Begum is perhaps the senior most participant of the ‘Long March’ in Islamabad. She is determined to be around till the show is over. She has come all the way from Wazirabad to take part in what she says a noble cause for reinstatement of deposed judges and packing up of President General (r) Pervez Musharraf.
“Tell me, who is speaking for Musharraf. Meet anyone, he will talk against him and won’t stop unless you ask him to do so,” she quipped in an assertive manner in Punjabi, when asked why she wanted the president to go.
Aziz Begum is happy to be in Islamabad at this juncture and says she will go back triumphantly as will the lawyers, who have gathered here from all across the country. “I have braved sweltering weather at this age just to see that the nation gets out of the troubles as a result of the legal fraternity’s unprecedented sacrifices. Free judiciary is the panacea for all ills,” she says in a thoughtful manner while trying to comfort herself with a handmade fan (pakkhi), she brought with her from Wazirabad.
The old woman says she does not fear anyone. And counter-questioned this correspondent, why should she hesitate from speaking the truth and alleged Musharraf and Chaudhrys of Gujrat had not done any good to the country.
About prevailing problems, she believes that these could be resolved with commitment and sincerity, which the rulers lack, particularly those who were in power since 1999. She innocently argues that how come Pakistan face ‘atta’ crisis, being a wheat producer itself. “When you, I and rulers are equal before the law, problems will start fizzling out,” she said.
As she talked with pauses, lawyer gathered around and evinced great interest. Aziz Begum was sitting in a chair close to the Jang Building. “I know, I am too old now. I will sit back here and listen to speeches of leaders,” she remarked plainly, when asked wouldn’t she move forward closer to the venue of the programme. After the ‘Long March,’ she will go to her son who is a veterinarian at Nurpur Shahan on the outskirts of the capital.
- WRITTEN UNDER MARTIAL LAW
