ISLAMABAD, June 20: PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari has asked the party workers to rededicate themselves to the mission of the late Benazir Bhutto.

He said that her life was dedicated to defending the country against dictatorship, extremism and tyranny and to give to the masses respect, dignity and honour.

In his message released here on Friday on the eve of Ms Bhutto’s 55th birth anniversary, Mr Zardari called upon the party workers to donate blood for the ailing as a token of remembrance that she shed her blood for the cause of the country and the people.

He said that while we paid her tribute for what she did for democracy, for the country and for the party, the birthday was also an occasion to pledge that we would continue to tread the path illumined by her with her blood.

Mr Zardari echoed the somber warning of Ms Bhutto contained in her political will, “I fear for the future of Pakistan. Please continue the fight against extremism, dictatorship, poverty and ignorance”.

He urged the people to work for a glorious future for the nation to live at peace with itself and with its neighbours.“Ms Bhutto led the party upfront ever since a military dictator seized power in a coup in 1977 and sent the country’s first directly-elected prime minister to the gallows,” he said.

During her last meeting with the Quaid-i-Awam Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, she pledged to continue his mission for a democratic federation and for the emancipation of people from hunger, disease, illiteracy and unemployment.

There was no turning back from that commitment, he said.

“I wish to thank you, my brothers and sisters, for standing shoulder to shoulder with her in facing tyranny”, Mr Zardari said.

He said: “Ms Bhutto was proud of the workers who together with her faced bullets, teargas, baton charges and imprisonment and together with her they stood strong.”

Like Ms Bhutto, Mr Zardari said, he too was proud of jiyalas who had kept the banner of truth, justice and the people flying high.

He paid homage to those who laid down their lives or suffered injuries for democracy on July 17, 2007 in Islamabad, May 12 in Karachi, Oct 18 in Karachi and on Dec 27 in Rawalpindi when she finally laid down her life for the cause.