KARACHI, Oct 21: Shrugging off terrorist threats, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) chairperson Benazir Bhutto came out of her Bilawal House residence on Sunday for the first public outing since Thursday’s massive attack on her procession, to visit various hospitals and comfort hundreds of her injured supporters. She vowed that the attempt on her life would not deter her from meeting her people.

She declared that the PPP would confront terrorists and not be distracted from its mission.

She surprised even her party people when she arrived at the Jinnah Hospital on an unannounced visit, with a security escort of police and ‘Jannisaran-i-Benazir’.

After visiting the injured and inquiring after their health, Ms Bhutto declared that her party would create a fund to provide relief to the injured and the families of the deceased.

She declared that those who sacrificed their lives on Oct 18 had saved the struggle for democracy.

Ms Bhutto, who was accompanied by party leaders, including Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Aftab Shaaban Mirani, Nisar Khuhro, Safdar Abbasi, Naheed Khan and Shah Mahmood Qureshi, lauded the resolve of her ‘jiyalas’ and said the PPP represented aspirations of the poor and the downtrodden. She went to each of the injured and assured them that the party would take care of them.

A large number of people had gathered outside the hospital and when she came out they chanted pro-Bhutto slogans.

From the Jinnah Hospital she was taken in her white Land Cruiser to Lyari where she met the injured and consoled the bereaved families. She visited the Sabzwari clinic and the home of footballer Abdul Khaliq who was killed in Thursday’s blasts. She also visited the residence of Sajid Punjguri and offered condolences to members of his family.

At Bilawal House, Ms Bhutto attended Quran Khwani for the deceased. She met members of the bereaved families and handed them cheques for Rs100,000 each.The PPP leaders and workers also held ghaibana nimaz-i-janaza outside the People’s Secretariat near Quaid-i-Azam’s mazar.