LARKANA: Amid rumours of differences between Pakistan Peoples Party co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari and his son and party chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, arrangements were on Friday finalised in Garhi Khuda Bakhsh Bhutto for the seventh death anniversary of PPP leader Benazir Bhutto on Saturday.

While the top leadership is rejecting the rumours, these reports are likely to affect the large public meeting being held in Garhi Khuda Bakhsh Bhutto.

The event described as a big political show for the PPP is also being held against the backdrop of the Peshawar school carnage as the country is in the grip of grief and sorrow and grappling with the issue of security and terrorism.

Extensive security arrangements have been made in Garhi Khuda Bakhsh Bhutto, where the stage is set to observe proceedings of the day.

Walkthrough security gates have been installed in the ground, where the main event will take place and elaborate arrangements for the vehicular traffic undertaken to control its movement effectively.

Sources said that around 7,000 policemen along with commandos and women police officers would be deployed for security in different places.

The Inspector General of Sindh Police, Ghulam Haidar Jamali, on Friday arrived at the venue and reviewed the security arrangements.

Reception camps have been installed in Larkana city, where pro-PPP songs are being played on the public address system and people have been seen dancing on the tunes.

The town of Naudero, its surroundings and the venue of the main gathering are decorated with tri-colour party flags and huge Panaflex portraits of party leaders not only to welcome the participants, but also to show their love and affiliation with the PPP.

The members of the mausoleum committee, district and divisional leaders in a series of meetings and sittings with the police and other nation-building departments have given the finishing touches to the arrangements.

A shuttle service between Naudero and Garhi Khuda Bakhsh Bhutto to facilitate peoples’ participation in the events has also been arranged.

Tents have been pitched in Garhi Khuda Bakhsh Bhutto to house participants as weather conditions in Larkana and nearby areas are getting colder.

The caravans of party workers are converging on Garhi Khuda Bakhsh Bhutto after passing through roads along guava orchards.The reception, medical and party camps have been set up at the venue, where the district administration has made through drinking water arrangements.

Also control rooms have been established at the deputy commissioner’s office in Naudero.

Published in Dawn, December 27th, 2014