KARACHI: Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has paid tribute to the victims of the May 12, 2007 violence in Karachi. He said innocent lives were sacrificed due to hatred and violence.
He described the incident as a painful chapter in the country’s history. He said it remains a reminder of the sacrifices made for democracy, justice, and the rule of law.
Bilawal said the tragedy also became a symbol of public courage and democratic struggle. He praised political workers, activists, and citizens of Karachi for showing resilience against fear and oppression on that day.
He added that the bloodshed in Karachi reflects the people’s commitment to democracy and constitutional supremacy.
He said nations move forward by remembering their painful past with truth and dignity, not by forgetting it.
Reaffirming his stance, the PPP chairman said the Pakistan Peoples Party will continue its struggle for a peaceful, democratic, and tolerant Pakistan where no citizen is silenced through violence and no city is held hostage by fear.
Earlier, Nineteen years after the deadly May 12 violence in Karachi, the families of victims are still waiting for justice as the tragic events of 2007 remain one of the darkest chapters in the city’s history.
The violent clashes, widely remembered as the “May 12 tragedy” or “Black Saturday riots,” claimed around 50 lives and left dozens injured when rival political groups battled across Karachi on May 12, 2007.
The violence erupted on the day former Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry was scheduled to arrive in Karachi during the height of the lawyers’ movement against his suspension.
Thousands of lawyers, political workers and supporters had planned to welcome the chief justice at Karachi airport. However, major roads were blocked with containers, creating a complete shutdown across the city. Armed clashes soon broke out in several areas, turning Karachi into a battleground for hours.
