Two functions held at Benazir’s assassination site

Published December 28, 2017
PPP supporters attend the party’s public gathering held near Liaquat Bagh on Wednesday. — White Star
PPP supporters attend the party’s public gathering held near Liaquat Bagh on Wednesday. — White Star

RAWALPINDI: PPP workers and supporters on Wednesday gathered at Liaquat Bagh to observe the 10th death anniversary of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto.

She was assassinated in a gun-and-bomb attack near Liaquat Bagh on Dec 27, 2007.

Though, the formal function was scheduled to be held in the evening – the time when former premier was assassinated – the workers and supporters started arriving at the site since morning.

Two separate functions were held at the site - one by PPP Workers Group led by Benazir’s close aide Naheed Khan and the other by PPP city chapter.

Earlier in the morning, PPP Workers Group chairperson Naheed Khan along with local leader Mohammad Ibn-e-Rizvi, accompanied by 50 to 60 workers, gathered at Benazir’s monument at Liaquat Bagh and held Quran Khawani and offered Fateha for Benazir BHutto. Lunch was also arranged for the participants.

Addressing the small gathering, PPP leader Naheed Khan said Benazir Bhutto sacrificed her life for the revival of democracy and betterment of the poor and needy.

She said the PPP government could not contest her murder case in courts that was the reason, the killers of her leader were moving freely.

She also condemned release of five suspects held in connection with Benazir’s murder.

Ms Khan urged the government to bring the assassins of Benazir Bhutto to justice.

Later, the programme ended peacefully.

Throughout the day, local PPP leaders and workers kept visiting the monument of Benazir Bhutto at Liquat Bagh to offer Fateha and lay floral wreaths.

The assassination site as well as the road leading to the monument were decorated with party flags, portraits of PPP founder Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Benazir Bhutto, her spouse Asif Ali Zardari and son Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.

Some of the workers were carrying placards and banners inscribed with slogans, Ya Allah Ya Rasool, Benazir Bekasoor , BB Hum Sharminda Hain, Tery Qatil Zinda Hain and Jab Tak Suraj Chand Rahay Ga, BB Tera Nam Rahay Ga.

The local leaders and workers also showered rose petals on the monument.

In the evening, PPP divisional president Sardar Saleem Haider along with Raja Imran Ashraf, PPP City President Babar Jadoon and Nasir Mir arranged Quran Khawani at the monument. More than 600 PPP workers attended the ceremony.

Addressing the participants, the speakers paid rich tributes to Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and his daughter Benazir Bhutto.

AJK PP pays tributes to Benazir

People’s Party and its affiliates commemorated 10th death anniversary of Benazir Bhutto across Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK).

At different functions, they paid glowing tributes to their slain leader for her unwavering commitment to the cause of Kashmiris, democracy and alleviation of the country’s downtrodden lot.

In Muzaffarabad, the PPP activists assembled at the shrine of Sain Saheli Sarkar early in the morning where they held Quran Khawani for Ms Bhutto.

Later, they attended another function at Central Press Club, jointly organised by PPP and PSF to mark the death anniversary.

“All through her life, Ms Bhutto dauntlessly struggled for supremacy of democracy, eradication of terrorism and poverty as well as stability and prosperity of Pakistan,” said senior PPP leader Shaukat Javed Mir at the function.

The Kashmiris, he maintained, in particular owed a debt of gratitude to Ms Bhutto for she had always advocated their cause with enthusiasm and dedication.

“It’s her unmatched struggle and sacrifices that make not only us, the PPP workers, but all of our compatriots feel proud of her,” he asserted.

Other speakers pointed out that Ms Bhutto could have remained in power for a long time had she also bargained with the dictators.

But she supported ascendancy of democracy over dictatorship, instead, they added.

Later in the afternoon, PPP women wing members held a special prayer meeting at the residence of PPP regional president Chaudhry Latif Akbar in connection with Ms Bhutto’s death anniversary.

The event was hosted by the spouse of Mr Akbar, who had himself gone to attend the main event in Garhi Khuda Bux.

In the lakeside city of Mirpur, former AJK prime minister Chaudhry Abdul Majeed presided over a function to mark Ms Bhutto’s death anniversary.

Speaking on the occasion, he said Ms Bhutto had sacrificed her life for restoration of true democracy and rule of law.

Mirpur-based PPP leader Hamayun Zaman Mirza led a group of party activists to Liaquat Bagh Rawalpindi to participate in the death anniversary function there.

Published in Dawn, December 28th, 2017

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