LARKANA/SUKKUR: Preparations for a big public gathering at Bhuttos’ mausoleum in Garhi Khuda Bakhsh were in the final stage on Tuesday for the 16th death anniversary of slain Pakistan Peoples Party leader Benazir Bhutto to be observed on Wednesday.

PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari and a host of party leaders will pay homage to Benazir Bhutto at the programme, expected to be attended by several hundred thousand people.

Bilawal will kick off his election campaign at the event, according to PPP Sindh president Nisar Khuhro and other senior party leaders, who reviewed arrangements for the programme at the venue. They said that the party chief would address a number of rallies in all provincial capitals as well as other cities and towns during his election campaign.

Programme

At the outset, Quran Khwani will be held in the morning for which separate arrangements for men and women have been made. It would be followed by a langar (free meal).

Poetic homage would be paid to Benazir Bhutto, the charismatic politician and a former prime minister, at a mushaira scheduled to be started at 2pm.

Seven thousand police officers, personnel to maintain security in and around Garhi Khuda Bakhsh

The top PPP leadership, along with other senior party colleagues would proceed to the stage to start proceedings of the event after the mushaira. The names of prominent party ticket-holders and their covering candidates are expected to be finalised after the programme.

Facilities for participants

Organisers of the programme have set up reception camps across Larkana and Naudero as well as all along the roads and walkways leading to the public gathering venue, in front of the mausoleum. Volunteers would be there at reception camps to guide the caravans and individuals towards the tents pitched for them.

A big stage with proper lighting arrangement and public address system has been installed for PPP leaders as well as other speakers, their companions and guests.

Separate space has been spared for former legislators belonging to the PPP and its allies next to the stage.

In order to deal with emergencies, ambulances and fire brigade have been arranged close to the venue and medical camps have also been established. Arrangements for drinking water, toilets and an uninterrupted power supply during the course of the programme have been ensured.

A vast area has been spared for parking of participants’ vehicles under the supervision of traffic police. Personnel of the traffic police would be deployed along all routes leading to the mausoleum.

Security arrangements

As many as 150 walkthrough gates have been installed to frisk each and every person entering the public gathering venue and movement of participants would be monitored through CCTV (close circuit television) cameras, a network of which has already been put in place.

Inspector General of Sindh Police Riffat Mukhtar Raja visited the venue on Tuesday and chaired a meeting of senior police officials in the office of Larkana SSP to reviewed the arrangements. The DIGs and SSPs of Larkana and Sukkur ranges as well as senior officers of the special branch and Counter-Terrorism Department also attended the meeting.

The IGP was informed that 7,000 police officers and personnel would be deployed in and around the venue to maintain law and order and to meet any eventuality.

He was told that a search and combing up operation was also underway in the area to round up suspected criminals.

Published in Dawn, December 27th, 2023