KARACHI: Chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Saturday made his first appearance in Lyari where he visited families of the six people who had recently drowned near Gadani beach.

Mr Bhutto-Zardari is contesting on a National Assembly seat in Lyari, historically his party’s stronghold, where he is expected to formally launch his election campaign on Sunday (today).

The party said he was accompanied by former chief minister of Sindh, Syed Murad Ali Shah, and other PPP leaders.

“The PPP chairman visited the residence of six ill-fated victims of drowning incident,” said a PPP spokesperson.

The PPP officials said Mr Bhutto-Zardari had visited homes of the victims and met the bereaved families and sympathised with them.

The party said the visit had no relation with the election campaign of the PPP chairman as he was expected to launch his campaign a day later.

However, when Mr Bhutto-Zardari reached parts of Lyari he was welcomed by residents of various neighbourhoods.

Workers and supporters of the PPP showered him with rose petals and hugged him when he disembarked from his car.

Earlier, the PPP leader visited the shrine of Abdullah Shah Ghazi where he offered fateha.

Along with Murad Ali Shah, former ministers Nasir Shah and Saeed Ghani, Rashid Rabbani, and Waqar Mehdi accompanied him.

Published in Dawn, July 1st, 2018