ISLAMABAD/RAWALPINDI: PPP workers and supporters on Tuesday celebrated the birth anniversary of former prime minister and party founding chairman Zulfikar Ali Bhutto in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad with a commitment to continue his struggle.

In the federal capital, the main function was held at the PPP central office. Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Khursheed Shah, former Punjab governor Latif Khosa, MNA Shazia Marri, MNA Nafeesa Shah, Senator Rubina Khalid, Farhatullah Babar, MNA Imran Leghari and Raja Imran Ashraf were present.

Speaking on the occasion, Khursheed Shah stressed the need for the revival of the philosophy of Mr Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto and said the country and the party were in deep crises as “we have drifted away from their philosophy.”

He said time had come to improve the contact between the party and the citizens so that the country would be taken out of the crises. “There is a dire need to improve ties between the party and workers.”

Former prime minister’s birth anniversary celebrated in twin cities

He said Bhutto was the leader who saved the country from serious crises and Benazir was struggling to make the country in accordance with the aspirations of Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah and Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.

The PPP general secretary, Latif Khosa, also attended a function in Rawalpindi which was arranged by the local chapter of the PPP at its main office in front of Liaquat Bagh.

More than 200 people attended the event and cut a cake. PPP regional coordinator Raja Imran Ashraf, city president Amir Fida Paracha, Shujaat Haider Naqvi and others were present.

On the other hand, the main function was held at Hazara Colony in Rawalpindi, which was attended mostly by the PPP workers and elected chairmen, vice-chairmen and councilors as well as former nazims and naib nazim including Nasir Mir, Jamil Qureshi and Asif Akbar.

Sindh Assembly Deputy Speaker Shehla Raza was the chief guest on the occasion. She cut the cake and pledged to continue working for the ideology of Mr Bhutto.

Speaking on the occasion, Ms Raza said the PPP founding chairman wanted to bring a socio-economic change in the country and eliminate poverty and ignorance. For this cause, he sacrificed his life, she added.

“Bhutto was the leader of the third world and for this an international conspiracy was hatched against him. Benazir was also a leader of the world and she raised voice for the poor.”

She said despite facing three military dictatorships, the PPP workers and supporters continued working to achieve the targets set by Mr Bhutto.

Nasir Mir said the PPP workers were ready to render sacrifices but the PPP leadership should first clean the party from opportunists who joined the party when it was in power.

“PPP old workers will help the leadership revive the party’s past glory if it gets rid of the opportunists. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto knew most of the workers by name but the current leadership knows the names of only those who are running real estate business in Rawalpindi and Islamabad,” he said.

On the other hand, PPP dissidents led by Ibne Rizvi and former senator Sardar Saleem, Abdul Qayyum celebrated the birth anniversary at their office near Benazir Bhutto Hospital.

Published in Dawn, January 6th, 2016