ISLAMABAD: In a rare display of unity, political leadership from across the divide cut a cake to mark the birthday of slain Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) chairperson Benazir Bhutto this Saturday.

At the opposition lobby of the National Assembly, PPP legislators, led by Opposition Leader Khurshid Ahmed Shah gathered during their lunch break to remember their leader and pay tributes to her.

Besides the PPP, the brief ceremony was also attended by Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi of the Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf (PTI), Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Aftab Ahmed Sheikh of Pakistan Muslim League-N and Mehmood Khan Achakzai of the Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP).

Awami Muslim League chief Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, who had been Bhutto’s most vocal rival during her short stints in government, was also present at the ceremony.

Later in a statement, Khurshid Shah spoke about the policy of reconciliation introduced by Bhutto and said PPP completed its five-year tenure in the government following this policy.

Published in Dawn, June 22nd , 2014