PESHAWAR: The PPP function organised at Nishtar Hall to mark the seventh death anniversary of Benazir Bhutto on Saturday was marred when activists of People’s Students Federation and People’s Youth Organisation beat up each other.

The clash began soon after provincial president of the party Khanzada Khan was invited to the podium for speech.

Former prime minister Raja Pervez Ashraf was the chief guest on the occasion, while a large number of PPP workers were in attendance.

First leaders of the party’s different sister organisations expressed their views, while workers shouted slogans in support of Bhutto family and party leadership.

The stage, however, turned into a wrestling ring when Khanzada Khan was invited for speech.

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A group of PYO workers brought him to the podium in a circle but even then activists of the opposite group tried to reach him to show their disapproval of his policies.

As a result, the two groups clashed with their workers beating up each other while using abusive language.

The workers also clashed with district president of the party Malik Tehmash Khan during the speech of the provincial president.

They were so charged that they did not heed the leaders’ repeated requests to calm down.

The leaders however didn’t allow use of force against them. Khanzada Khan avoided protesters and criticised the provincial government.

He said PTI had come to power by unfair means though PPP was in a good position to win elections in the province for form government.

“We have roots in the people and are in the position to emerge successful if elections are held fairly,” he said, urging workers to step up efforts to revive the party at all levels.

The PPP president paid tribute to the Bhutto family for rendering great sacrifices for the sake of democracy and progress of the nation.

When former prime minister Raja Pervez Ashraf was invited for speech, former provincial president Zahir Ali Shah too tried to pacify protesters and resolve the issue.

He asked the people to respect the guest and avoid fighting in his presence for the sake of the party.

Raja Pervez condemned the killing of children in the Army Public School Peshawar by the Taliban and described it a cowardly act on part of the masterminds behind the attack and said those planning to kill children and women should be crushed before they targeted others.

He said the nation stood by the armed forces in the fight against terrorists for restoration of peace in the country.

The former prime minister said the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa deserved praise for enduring hardships, rendering sacrifices and bearing the losses of life and property for years without yielding to terrorists.

He said Benazir Bhutto had always held the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in high esteem and still the party leadership had respect for the people because they played the key role in the fight against terrorism.

Recalling the sacrifices of Bhutto family, he said it was Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto, who became prime ministers but never compromised principles and instead worked for the rights of the poor and downtrodden people.

Raja Pervez said PPP had to its credit the restoration of democracy and launch of mega development schemes in the country. He asked workers to sort out differences and work for the party’s welfare.

PPP leaders Nighat Orakzai, Humayun Khan, Liaquat Shabab, Malik Tehmash and Zahir Ali Shah also spoke on the occasion.

Like Peshawar, functions were held in other parts of the province too to mark the death anniversary of Benazir Bhutto.

In Chitral, two functions were held, one at polo ground with senior leader Shah Murad Baig in the chair and the other at the town hall.

At those functions, the speakers praised Benazir Bhutto for sacrificing her life for democracy.

They also said Zulfikar Ali Bhutto worked for the development of Chitral in early 1970s.

The speakers said it was Bhutto who started work on Lowari Tunnel project and familiarised the people of the backward district to modern facilities of education, healthcare and electricity.

In Mansehra, the PPP held a function at the press club auditorium to mark Benazir Bhutto’s death anniversary.

The speakers, including district president of the party Malik Farooq, said Benazir Bhutto laid down her life for the country but didn’t bow down before the country’s enemy.

They said Benazir Bhutto always stood firm against undemocratic forces and that she would be long remembered by the people for her sacrifices for democracy and the country.

In Buner, Lakki Mrawat and Bajaur Agency, too, PPP activists marked the Benazir Bhutto death anniversary.

They pledged to carry forward Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto’s mission of public welfare.

Published in Dawn, December 28th, 2014