KARACHI, Jan 26: Members of the City Council on Saturday paid tribute to the slain PPP leader Benazir Bhutto’s untiring struggle for the cause of democracy in the country.

Leaders of both sides of the house eulogised the services of the assassinated leader and described her as a leader of international stature who had won for Pakistan pride and respect.

Earlier, when the house resumed its session, the convener of the house, City Naib Nazim Nasreen Jalil, told the members that she was suspending the normal business and dedicating the session to a discussion on the services of Ms Bhutto to the country.

In her brief statement, Ms Jalil paid tribute to the late leader, saying that she was a leader of international repute.

Despite the difference of opinion in politics, we could not ignore her sacrifices for the cause of democracy, Ms Jalil said.

Her speech was followed by a condolence resolution tabled by Awam Dost Panel leader Saeed Ghani. The resolution expressed deep anguish over the tragic incident of Rawalpindi in which PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto and 30 others were killed.

It condemned the terrorist act and paid tribute to the valuable services of the late leader.

“With her death the country has been deprived of a great politician and a thinker who was not only widely respected in the country but also at the international level,” the resolution said, adding that despite threats to her life she returned to the country to serve the nation.

It also called for conducting a probe into the incidents of Liaquat Bagh and Oct 18 in a manner acceptable to the people of Pakistan and the PPP.

Mr Ghani’s speech was followed by a statement by Haq Parast Panel leader Asif Siddiqui who condemned the Liaquat Bagh terrorist act, saying that as Muslims we could not condone such acts.

The death of the PPP leader had been widely condemned, he said, adding that the violence that had erupted in the aftermath of the tragic incident could not ignored as property worth millions of rupees had been looted and women had been allegedly raped.

Upon this the convener intervened and advised Mr Siddiqui to restrict his speech to the contents of the resolution. Before winding up the session, the convener asked the house members to observe a minute’s silence in the memory of Benazir Bhutto. She adjourned the session for Monday.