KARACHI: Pakistan Peoples Party chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Saturday paid glowing tributes to his mother, former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto on her 13th death anniversary and said though she was not physically with them she continued to be a unifying and binding force for democratic forces and a guiding light for the party leaders and workers.

In a message released on the eve of the anniversary, Bilawal pledged that the mission left behind by Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto would be pursued vigorously and asked the party workers to get ready for a grand struggle for the restoration of true democracy, supremacy of Constitution and parliament and complete empowerment of people in the country.

He said that Benazir Bhutto was a model daughter, sister, wife, mother and ruler of hearts in Islamic world and her loss would continue to be felt for centuries.

Bilawal said that Benazir Bhutto not only inspired women in a male-dominated society but she also unified the whole nation and led it valiantly during the struggle for restoration of democracy and human rights.

He said that Benazir Bhutto struggled for the rights of the downtrodden, empowerment of women and the marginalised and braved solitary confinement, imprisonment, victimisation and character assassination but never fell silent.

Published in Dawn, December 27th, 2020