LARKANA: Activists of the Pakistan Peoples Party observed the 64th birth anniversary of their slain leader Benazir Bhutto in many Sindh towns on Wednesday.

In Naudero, the Sindh government launched ‘ration allowance programme’ for deserving women to coincide with the birth anniversary at a special ceremony at Naudero House.

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah said at the ceremony in the presence of PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and MNA Faryal Talpur that the women registered with Benazir Income Support Programme would be eligible to get Rs2,000 financial aid for Eid.

He said the aid was being given from the social welfare department and more than 1.8 million women would receive a total of Rs3.6 million.

In his brief speech, PPP chairman said that his party had taken various steps for improving peoples’ lot and praised the Sindh government for its efforts in this regard.

Earlier, Bakhtawar Bhutto-Zardari and Aseefa Bhutto-Zardari visited the Bhuttos’ mausoleum amid tight security. They laid floral wreaths on the grave of their mother and offered fateha.

The chief minister along with his cabinet members and other party leaders also visited the shrine, laid floral wreaths and offered fateha on the grave of Benazir Bhutto and others.

In Larkana city, PPP Sindh president Nisar Ahmed Khuhro along with Waqar Mehdi, Rashid Rabbani, Larkana Mayor Mohammad Aslam Shaikh and others cut the birthday cake of their slain leader.

Mr Khuhro said on the occasion that it was Benazir Bhutto who stood against all odds and fought with dictators for the restoration of democracy. Her services would always be remembered, he said.

KARACHI: “PPP pledges to accomplish the mission of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto and vows not to hesitate to offer sacrifices for the sake of nation and the country,” said PPP leaders at a function marking the birth anniversary of Benazir Bhutto at Peoples Secretariat.

The leaders, including PPP Karachi division president Dr Asim Hussain, deputy Speaker Syeda Shehla Raza, former MNA Sardar Nabeel Gabol and others paid tribute to Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and his daughter.

Dr Asim said that Bhutto was sent to the gallows by the very elements which had a Taliban mindset. This mindset was still busy to break apart PPP but they would never succeed, he said, adding Nawaz Sharif and Imran Khan could no longer befool people.

Syeda Shehla Raza, Nabeel Gabol and Murtaza Baloch said that Nawaz Sharif had been trapped in the Panama Papers case. Benazir Bhutto too was held accountable but she never objected to it and courageously faced cases in courts, they said.

HYDERABAD: Several programmes were held in Hyderabad and other districts to mark the birth anniversary of Benazir Bhutto where PPP leaders paid rich tribute to their slain leader.

PPP leader Sharjeel Memon said at an Iftar dinner he had hosted at his farmhouse to mark his leader’s birth anniversary that Benazir Bhutto had completed her father’s mission. Asif Ali Zardari was targeted in the past in the name of accountability and Benazir Bhutto faced concocted charges while Nawaz Sharif always signed deals with dictators to escape their wrath, he said.

He demanded that names of Nawaz Sharif and his sons should be put on ECL because they might “run away”. The judiciary and JIT could not be pressurised as PPP was standing with them, he added.

PPP leader Syed Naveed Qamar said that Benazir Bhutto could not be compared with present rulers. When a member of Sharif family had to sit in an air-conditioned room before JIT members it led to a storm while Benazir Bhutto had to shuttle between different courts and prisons but she never insulted anyone, he said.

PPP information secretary Maula Bux Chandio said at a function organised by PPP’s Hyderabad chapter that Benazir Bhutto decided to visit the injured on the second day of Karsaz bombing while Nawaz Sharif cancelled all his political programmes following the incident.

A group of local PPP leaders led by Zahid Bhurgari and Abdul Jabbar Khan organised a separate programme in Hussainabad park where a cake was also cut.

MIRPURKHAS: Speakers paid rich tribute to Benazir Bhutto at a ceremony marking her birth anniversary.

At a large gathering at a hall, PPP MNA Mir Munawwar Talpur said that Benazir Bhutto was a visionary leader.

Mirpurkhas district council chairman Mir Anwer Ali Talpur said that Benazir Bhutto laid down her life for the masses.

PPP leaders Azmina Nazeer Chandio, former MPA Shamim Ara Panhwar and MPA Khairun Nisa Mughal also spoke the ceremony.

Later, a big cake was cut to mark the birth anniversary.

BADIN: PPP activists observed birth anniversary of their slain leader in Badin and adjoining towns by organising ceremonies and gatherings and cutting cakes.

At a ceremony in Badin, local party leaders Mohammad Ismail Rahu, Khan Sahib Jamali, Haji Sain Bux Jamali and others paid rich tribute to their slain leader, who they said, lived and died for common people.

MITHI: PPP activists observed birth anniversary of Ms Benazir Bhutto in Mithi, Islamkot, Diplo, Chelhar, Kaloi and other towns of the district. The party’s main event was held at Malani House where Dr Mehesh Kumar Malani and others paid glowing tribute to their leader.

Published in Dawn, June 22nd, 2017