Removal of Benazir's picture from BISP logo 'unconstitutional', says PPP leader

E-Paper | May 07, 2026

Pakistan People's Party (PPP) on Tuesday strongly condemned the removal of Benazir Bhutto's picture from the logo of Benazir Income Support Programme initiative (BISP), DawnNewsTV reported.

Senior PPP leader Nayyar Hussain Bukhari termed the act of changing the BISP logo "unconstitutional", as the programme had been approved by an act of the parliament and the logo was also unanimously accepted.

Bukhari urged the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government to stop harbouring feelings of prejudice against the late PPP leader, which he said was the driving force behind this decision.

With PML-N's 'supreme leader' already under scrutiny, Bukhari warned the rest of the party to be "prepared for accountability".

In the wake of child abuse cases in the country, BISP launched a countrywide campaign in January to raise awareness about various aspects of child protection — including the role of parents, teachers, leaders, guardians and responsible members of civil society.

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Nadir Guramani is a journalist and anchorperson for Dawn News (TV) with 17 years of experience. His reporting covers parliamentary affairs, foreign policy, politics, climate change, and human rights. He can be found on X at @nguramani.

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M.Saeed

Mar 20, 2018 10:04pm

Benazir did not establish any foundation to run that program.

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Nomi Goraya

Mar 20, 2018 10:05pm

Though I am very strong opponent of using pictures and name of politicians while naming the public sector projects and schemes but she was the first Muslim PM of any country and she gave her life for this country so I think PMLN should have shown some respect if they really want to go personality free it is high time to start with pics of SS which you find everywhere in Punjab more than founder of country. Just to tell you I am a big fan of SS but ethics are ethics

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Rizwan

Mar 20, 2018 10:11pm

Obama care will remain under his name in the USA; no harm in BB picture here, she was a great leader and an inspiration for women and girls

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khaled

Mar 20, 2018 10:31pm

So sad, why was it so worrisome to the people at the helm? How will the removal help them in any way? Last time they wanted to change the name, they had to face international outcry.

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ALI khan

Mar 20, 2018 10:40pm

Sadly it should be called national income support program or federal income support program. But all political parties just want to use their names on doing anything good.

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Aga Moosa Khan Shinwari

Mar 20, 2018 10:46pm

Good move!

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Talha

Mar 20, 2018 10:49pm

Benazir was far better and strong leader than todays corrupt zardaris sharifs

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Political connoisseur

Mar 20, 2018 11:34pm

Recently the SC has objected to CM Punjab photo in print media ads as well as some e- media ads, and hence removed. Even the name of politician if mentioned is unconstitutional in logo or title. Only a pic or photo of founder of nation can appear on currency. I would suggest the Federal Govt to issue one time postal stamps with pic of BB, the instant removal of BB pic from BISP is ok and lawful. The trend of pics, photo, or logo, anywhere including flex flac ads is like promotion of political product, and it has nothing to do with people welfare. PPP with due respect is appealed to improve the civic situation in urban & rural Sindh instead agitating like children on petty matters. Besides there are many financial scams reported about BISP such scams may be investigated, and let the people know who plundered the money.

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Alba

Mar 20, 2018 11:35pm

Politicians use The Constitution against anything real or imagined to the heights of silliness.

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Arshad

Mar 20, 2018 11:38pm

Is Benazir or Zardari paying it from their pocket ? It's the tax money that the government collected from ordinary people. Why not put an ordinary person's name on it.

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Shahid

Mar 20, 2018 11:49pm

Is this fund being paid by BB’s family or tax payers’ money.

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Skyhawk

Mar 20, 2018 11:53pm

No pictures please.

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Shaukat Ali Khan

Mar 20, 2018 11:56pm

BISP is not funded by the Bhutto family.

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Ehs

Mar 20, 2018 11:58pm

Why is this even as issue ?? Waste of time and resources... The BiSP works on public funds not the private wealth of Bhutto or Zardari family.

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M Akram

Mar 21, 2018 12:00am

Long overdue, BISP is not paid by Zardari or billions stashed away abroad by Zardari and PPP big wigs. Good move.

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Uzair Ahmad Khan

Mar 21, 2018 12:27am

Finally a good decision by Federal Government. Keep working on the decision of Supreme Court.

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Simple

Mar 21, 2018 12:56am

No project run on public money must ever have a name attached to an individual! The money isn't coming from their personal fortune which in most cases is actually looted from public money.

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Usman

Mar 21, 2018 01:06am

This is not the Benazir Income Support Program, it is not funded by Benazir it is funded by the taxpayers of Pakistan, just like Nawaz and Shabazz Sharif's pictures should not be on any giveaways as it is not their money but the money of the taxpayers.

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Hasnain Haque

Mar 21, 2018 01:13am

Do the funds come from personal accounts of Bhutto family, if no then remove the photo. How stupid of anyone to suggest otherwise, feudal lords living in dark ages.

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Hasnain Haque

Mar 21, 2018 01:13am

Feudal lords clinging to power.

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Syed

Mar 21, 2018 01:29am

Mother n Child dyeing in Thar is the matter of alarm and not the removal of picture for publicity of party. How a great nation live in the world to be taught to Pakistani leader as well as people....

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Zain

Mar 21, 2018 01:41am

The PPP should stop building personality cults. In a democracy, ideals are celebrated not personalities.

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UFO

Mar 21, 2018 01:46am

This program is not coming from PPPs pocket. It is taxpayer's money. The name of this program should also be changed.

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WARRIs

Mar 21, 2018 02:08am

Photographs or images of political leaders, dead or alive, to promote individual party politics must not be published at tax payers expense. Benazir was a politician and nothing else and did not deserve free publicity.

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JA-Australia

Mar 21, 2018 02:10am

Programs like BISP are a slap in the face of poor people. Such programs are designed to keep the people dependent on, and morally indebted to, the politicians. It's much better to build schools and employment opportunities so people can stand on their own two feet and enjoy the self-respect of developing their own talents and potential. But, of course, Pakistani politics (and politics in many countries) consists of creating a legion of dependents who will then vote for certain parties in gratitude.

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Juxtice

Mar 21, 2018 02:31am

Pakistan needs to get rid of naming culture of govt buildings, airports, streets etc UNLESS they have made huge sacrifices for Pakistan e.g Quaid-e-Azam and other sacrificial politicians, poets etc. Political parties should be Banned by law to name streets, airports etc in their party’s leaders name. The ban should also apply in provincial govts. In a civilised democracy such ludicrous acts are unheard off.

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ahmed

Mar 21, 2018 02:46am

politics on tax payers money. Making controversy as if the politicians paid from their own pockets though their own money is hidden in palaces abroad or in off-shore accounts.

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Anand

Mar 21, 2018 03:06am

PPP gone I I Insane

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Raza G

Mar 21, 2018 03:10am

Does anyone know that it's the British government that pays for Benazir Income Support Program BISP!!! Also no political leadership she'll be able to post their pictures on anything period it's not there money... it's Pakistan money and in this case it's British money

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Mar 21, 2018 03:42am

yes. Programme is being used politically

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Akil Akhtar

Mar 21, 2018 03:48am

Politicians should never have anything named after them.....

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Mirestan

Mar 21, 2018 04:48am

Please remove Benazir s' statue at Boating basin Karachi. It is not Islamic to Install a statue. I have seen pepole praying. Please stop spreading of Bhuthprasty.

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Sami

Mar 21, 2018 05:30am

Why PPP supported removal of Altaf Hussain name from all places! What goes around comes around

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Denali

Mar 21, 2018 05:37am

There is nothing unconstitutional about it.

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Safdar ali

Mar 21, 2018 06:04am

Not only the picture of benazir but also her name should be removed from this program which is largely funded by tax payers money and not through benazirs personal source of income.

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Qamar

Mar 21, 2018 06:57am

The money for BISP comes from our taxes, not from Benazir's wealth. So why the program should carry her name or picture? Most of the illiterate public thinks that the money is coming from PPP. BISP should be renamed as "Government Subsistence Allowance Program".

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M Mirza

Mar 21, 2018 07:28am

It is not Benazeer's money that is distributed so why should her name be on that organization.

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Uzair

Mar 21, 2018 08:19am

This shamelessness is appalling. Not only it was wrong to put her name and picture officially on the scheme in the first place, but they're callings its removal unconstitutional. The only point they can use as a defense worth considering is the fact that this principle is not being applied to Nawaz and Shahbaz Sharif. Whose names should also be removed from anything they are not funding from their personal wealth. And those mentioning Obamacare should note that it is officially called Affordable care act. Terming it Obamacare was a means to take a political strike at him.

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MAK

Mar 21, 2018 08:35am

It is inane to name places after 'run of the mill' humans but for the exceptional, eternity belongs to us

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AZAM AKBAR

Mar 21, 2018 09:08am

@ALI khan Correct.

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AZAM AKBAR

Mar 21, 2018 09:09am

@M.Saeed I agree with your comment.

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AZAM AKBAR

Mar 21, 2018 09:18am

@WARRIs Oh! This the best comment of comments.

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Azhar

Mar 21, 2018 11:01am

@Rizwan, not necessarily. Any US government can change the name as and when it desires following the legal procedure. In my opinion, all government funded projects should be named after undisputed and non-controversial national or local heros.

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Leoman

Mar 21, 2018 11:32am

Whatever goes against them that is unconstitutional and whatever good or bad they do that is fully constitutional. The political leaders ought to be for the service and help of people but here the cadr is entirely opposite. They think they have a birth right to rule whatever the way they want and then they say they are democratic. In real democracy no one is superior and inferior. But in reality our political leaders are never in the understanding of real democracy. Has any politicians ever generated a support fund with their own personal source .?? Why was it constitutional to have a photo of someone on the public money fund. ?

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amin malik

Mar 21, 2018 02:33pm

it is a public money which is distributed , not from personal wealth of Ms Benazir. The Prime ministers serve the public being their duty. the scheme should be named to someone fm old history.

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Lubna Beg

Mar 22, 2018 06:26am

BISP is wrongly named for benazir since it was not from her pocket thanks to remove her photo and name should also be removed from this --shame on bukhari to complain rather than be sorry for continually using benazir name on a public fund to buy votes and projecting ppp name like it is from benazir pocket--this can only happen in pakistan and now that photo is rightly removed bukhari is crying--shame on ppp and bukhari--so sad a fund funded by foriegn aid and donations is prrojected as benazir own money and no one have raised brows on this balatant dishonesty ,now that it is done ppp is complaining ---shame

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