LAHORE: PPP leaders paid rich tributes to the late Begum Nusrat Bhutto for her sacrifices for democracy in the country on Thursday.

Workers and leaders attended a gathering where thee Holy Quran was recited in connection with the death anniversary of Nusrat Bhutto. PPP Punjab President Manzoor Wattoo, Tanvir Ashraf Kaira, Afnan But, Mian Ayub, Mazoor Maneka and a number of PPP workers were present.

Mr Wattoo said Begum Bhutto provided leadership to the nation during the Movement for the Restoration of Democracy challenging the dictatorship of Gen Ziaul Haq.

He said the workers would continue the mission of Bhuttos.

Criticising the PPP disgruntled couple Naheed Khan and Dar Safdar Abbasi, he said PPP workers were against their effort to form their faction of the party (PPP Workers), saying their political redundancy was the foregone conclusion like the other dissident leaders in the past.

He added PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari had started his political career by holding a big rally in Karachi in which he expressed his firm resolve to serve the downtrodden segments of society, including small farmers, labourers, students, minorities, women and the youth.

He said the MQM should not have ended political alliance with the PPP when Syed Khurshid Shah had regretted his remarks.

He said the MQM derived the meaning of the speech of Bilawal out of context and their reaction was uncalled for.

He welcomed the decision of the Pakistan Awami Tahreek to wind up its Islamabad sit-in and urged the Pakistan Tahreek-i-Insaf to follow the suit.

He said the PPP would continue to follow the policy of reconciliation without compromising on democracy.

Published in Dawn, October 24th, 2014