NAUDERO, Dec 27: The nation observed on Saturday the first death anniversary of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto with solemnity and respect.

Ministers, parliamentarians, ambassadors and senior officials attended a Quran Khwani arranged by Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani at the Prime Minister’s House.

Social welfare bodies and government organisations arranged elocution contests on the lives of members of the Bhutto family.

Radio Pakistan, PTV, private FM radio stations and television channels aired special programmes to highlight the struggle of Benazir Bhutto and her father, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.

National and regional newspapers brought out special supplements.

The directorate of films and publications launched a collection of speeches of Ms Bhutto as prime minister in book form.

In Rawalpindi, PPP leaders and members of other political parties visited the memorial put up at the place where the PPP leader was assassinated last year.

Special prayers were also offered for the other people who lost their lives in the tragedy.

In Lahore, the largest function to mark Benazir Bhutto’s first death anniversary was held at the Masjid-i-Shuhada on the Mall.

Quran Khwani was also held at the Data Darbar.

Similar gatherings were also held in Multan, Bahawalpur, Faisalabad and other towns in Punjab.

In Karachi, people participated in Quran Khwanis and condolence meetings. Fishermen in Lyari took part in a Quran Khwani in large numbers. People in other cities and towns of Sindh also remembered the slain PPP chief.

In Peshawar, PPP workers participated in condolence references. Quran Khwanis, talk shows and declamation contests on the life of the Bhuttos were held all over the NWFP.

In Quetta, the provincial information department arranged an elocution contest.

In Azad Kashmir, people honoured the memory of Benazir Bhutto by holding Quran Khwanis and special meetings. –APP