Co-chairman of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) and former President Asif Ali Zardari on Tuesday said that, "The underlying message of Yom-e-Ashur is "Resist tyranny, oppression and falsehood at all costs, at all times and under all circumstances". "Therefore while we pay homage to Imam Hussain and the martyrs of Karbala we also pledge to resist tyranny, oppression, injustice and falsehood at all times, he said in a message on Yom-e-Ashur," he added.
"Today Hazrat Imam Hussain shines gloriously beaconing us to emulate his great example in fighting injustice and oppression," he said."The Satanic forces of tyranny and falsehood have reared their heads in the form of militants and so called jehadi outfits who have wrought havoc on this country behind the façade of ideology," he said. "The commemoration of Yom-e-Ashur today demands that we summon our collective strengths and energies to exterminate these evil forces from our midst," he said. The former President also asked the people to rise above sectarianism and forge unity among their ranks.