Match fuels enthusiasm, patriotism

LAHORE: After a long fearful environment, people across the country thronged Gaddafi Stadium on Sunday to watch the cricket match in Lahore.

"Thank God, today we have defeated terrorism and Pakistan has won, Pakistan Zindabad," expressed Ali, a resident of Ichhra, adding that earlier the fear of terrorism was ruling and citizens were afraid of visiting any place across the country after bomb blasts in Lahore and Sehwan Sharif. Gathering at the stadium was a true picture of Pakistan. Its people don’t let any opportunity to celebrate any festival.

Folks of the country called it 'life blood' for them. After, seeing its importance, religious clerics showed their keen interest and could not isolate themselves from the festival. A number of banners of JI youth were displayed in the metropolitan city of Lahore with written on them “Welcome cricket back at home.” Moreover, the chief of Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) purchased the ticket for the match.

It seems whole Pakistan was waiting for the mega event. Those who could not purchase the tickets, arranged the LEDs and watched the match in the streets of Lahore. Farooq from Karishan Nagar brought LED from his house to the street. Youth, men, women from surroundings came to see the match. It was not only a cricket match rather demonstration of sense of brotherhood. The PSL became source of pleasure to celebrate it collectively. The event became source of revival of Lahori cultural.

The girls and boys watched the match together without any mishap.  Students from different parts of the country participated in the mega event. Usman, an undaunted parent of a student who allowed his son to watch and defeat fear of terrorism, said the nation would  have to wake up of slumber. He demanded such kind of events should be conducted everywhere in the country as sources of enjoyment had been confined after wave of terrorism. 

The chief minister provided free tickets to the students of KP. A person from Balochistan, attending the mega event, said, "I can't recall witnessing such pure euphoria and patriotism. A great scene! I have ever seen." According to him, patriotism could be seen through the eyes of Pakistanis who participated in the event from every corner of the country.