PPP workers carry flags as they arrive to attend a ceremony in Rawalpindi on the 36th death anniversary of PPP founder Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. — Online

RAWALPINDI: The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) on Saturday failed to bring its workers together to observe the death anniversary of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.

Due to the disunity, the PPP had to arrange two separate functions on the death anniversary of its founding chairman.

The City chapter arranged a function at Jinnah Park, the old site of the Rawalpindi jail where Mr Bhutto spent his last days. Another group gathered at the site of ‘Phansi Ghat’ where Bhutto was hanged on April 4, 1979.

Two groups of leaders and activists arrange separate functions in Rawalpindi to pay tributes to the PPP founder

PPP City president Amir Fida Paracha, Imran Ashraf (brother of former prime minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf), Qazi Sultan Mehmood and more than 400 people from different walks of life offered Fateha and pledged to continue the mission of Mr Bhutto for the welfare of the poor.

The activists were holding party flags, portraits of Mr Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto besides placards and banners inscribed with different slogans.

Addressing the gathering, Qazi Sultan and Amir Fida Paracha paid tributes to Mr Bhutto for his services to the nation. They also paid tributes to Benazir Bhutto for sacrificing her life to achieve the rights of the poor and strengthen the democratic system in the country.

Later, the local party leaders and activists visited Liaquat Bagh where Ms Bhutto was assassinated in December 2007 and laid wreaths on her monument. Police had made tight security arrangements on the occasion.

Meanwhile, the other group of old PPP workers and local leaders managed to gather about 70 workers, including women, to observe the anniversary.

Ibne Rizvi told Dawn that though the number of participants at the gathering arranged by his group was small, “we wanted to bring the PPP to its old glory in accordance with the dreams of Mr Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto.”

He said the PPP City chapter failed to bring all the old workers to its function. “Mostly people came to the function to pay respect to Mr Bhutto,” he said.

Former City president Sardar Saleem said he attended the function to pay tributes to ZAB for his services to the people.

He said the old workers and supporters should not be ignored by the party leadership.

“Workers and common citizens are the party’s main strength and giving them respect and raising a voice for their rights were the philosophy of the Bhuttos,” he added.

Published in Dawn, April 5th, 2015

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