ISLAMABAD, June 21: Though Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) managed to form a government in 2008 due to the sacrifice of Benazir Bhutto, none of the party leaders or workers bothered to attend a pictorial exhibition held in connection with the 59th birthday of the slain PPP leader at Lok Virsa here on Thursday.

The exhibition was organised in collaboration with Senator Rubina Khalid, but even she did not turn up at its inauguration.

It was announced that the inaugural ceremony of the exhibition would be held at 5pm at the Heritage Museum. But when this reporter visited the hall at that time, there was not a single leader or worker of the party.

Over 50 pictures of Ms Bhutto, her father Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, mother Nusrat Bhutto, husband Asif Ali Zardari, sister Sanam Bhutto, brothers Shah Nawaz and Murtaza Bhutto have been put on the display.

Besides, there are portraits of Ms Bhutto’s childhood and those snapped with renowned leaders of the world. A statue of the former prime minister has also been placed there along with a documentary movie. The exhibition will continue till June 26.

An official of Lok Virsa requesting not to be named said: “We were expecting that scores of parliamentarians and may be former Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani would attend the inaugural ceremony. However, we are shocked to see that no one bothered to come.”

It was also shocking that PPP workers did not bother to visit the exhibition. “Due to this, the cake of the event could not be cut even after 6pm,” he said.

Executive Director Lok Virsa Khalid Javaid, who also looked disappointed due to unavailability of any political personality, said Mr Bhutto was the founder of Lok Virsa and his daughter had ensured development of culture during her government.

May be politicians would be busy somewhere else, he added.