HYDERABAD, Dec 20: Threats to sabotage first death anniversary of Benazir Bhutto on Dec 27 are being received by the PPP leaders, said Sindh Minister for Culture and Tourism Sassui Palijo.

However, federal and provincial ministries had heightened the security measures, she said adding: ‘PPP leaders have learned to advance and not to retreat.”

She was talking to journalists on Saturday after inaugurating a five-day exhibition of the portraits of Benazir Bhutto organised by the Culture Department at the Sindh Museum.

Ms Sassui said that the government was in touch with the UN as considerable progress had been made in investigation in the Benazir murder case.

She said that the government had told the UN that it was important to unearth elements behind her assassination who still were threatening the PPP leadership. She said that there were people delaying implementation of the PPP policies.

Provincial autonomy, water distribution among provinces, preparation of National Finance Commission (NFC) Award and providing relief to nation were the challenges faced by PPP, she said.

She said that her department had established Benazir Bhutto chairs at Karachi University and Sindh University with plans afoot to establish the same at Khairpur University in 2009 for carrying out research work on her achievements and ideology.

She said that it was important to follow Benazir’s ideology. She said the chairs would also be established in other provinces linking these to international universities and institutions, especially wherever she had delivered a lecture.

Earlier, renowned intellectual and writer Muhammad Ibrahim Joyo said that the PPP was a democratic and secular political party that represented the people of all provinces of Pakistan.

He said that politics and culture were inter-related as both reflect aspiration and lifestyle of people and hopefully PPP will promote rich cultural values in Sindh.

MPA Farheen Mughal, Sarfaraz Rajar, president, Peoples Cultural Wing, Sindh, Sanam Talpur, Aftab Khanzada and Taj Joyo also spoke on the occasion.

Earlier, the Sindh Minister for Culture and Tourism after inaugurating the exhibition went to the gallery to view portraits.

She lauded the efforts of artists and announced financial reward and certificates to first three positions of both senior and junior categories. Mohammad Ali Bhatti secured 1st position, Hafeez Qureshi 2nd and Mohandas 3rd in senior category while Shagufta Shah, Dr Zubeda Junejo and Zainab Pirzado were declared 1st, 2nd and 3rd positions, respectively in junior category.