RAWALPINDI: The 70th birthday celebration of President Asif Ali Zardari was held at the Governor Annexe Rawalpindi.

The event was attended by the PunjabGovernor Sardar Saleem Haider Khan as the chief guest, former Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf and a large number of PPP leaders and workers.

The PunjabGovernor cut the cake of President Asif Ali Zardari’s 70th birthday along with the former Prime Minister. Special prayers were offered for the health of President Asif Ali Zardari at the ceremony.

Addressing the ceremony, the Punjab GovernorSardar Saleem Haider Khan said that the current democratic system owes to the political vision of President Asif Ali Zardari.

“If the Pakistan People’s Party is complete today, the credit goes to President Asif Ali Zardari. The great leader Benazir Bhutto entrusted the leadership of the party to Asif Ali Zardari through her will. After the martyrdom of BB, Asif Ali Zardari raised the slogan of Long Live Pakistan.

“After the martyrdom of Benazir Bhutto, it was a very difficult time for the PPP, President Zardari took over the party,” he said. Punjab Governor said that the PPP is a symbol of the federation, today the party has full representation in the national and provincial assemblies. Now the leadership of the PPP is in the hands of the heir of the martyrs, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, he said.

He said that Bilawal Bhutto Zardari will be the next Prime Minister of Pakistan. He is proud to be the leader of the PPP. China supported us in the war with India, a major reason for this was the 14 visits to China during Asif Ali Zardari’s first term.

Punjab Governor Sardar Saleem Haider urged Pakistan People Party (PPP) workers to end their silence and start work to make Bilawal Bhutto Prime Minister. “The time for the silence of the Jiyalas is over. We all have to work together to make Bilawal Bhutto Zardari the Prime Minister of the country,” he stated.

Addressing the ceremony, former Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf said that President Asif Ali Zardari has held the flag of the federation of Pakistan. He took over the leadership of the party in difficult circumstances.

“President Zardari is the king of reconciliation, today critics are convinced of his reconciliation policy. President Zardari’s sacrifices for democracy are unforgettable,” he said.

Published in Dawn, July 29th, 2025