HUNZA, Dec 31 The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) local leaders and workers have condemned the assassination of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto in a gun-suicide-attack in Rawalpindi last week.

In a statement issued here Monday, PPP Gilgit District vice-president, Ghulam Mohammad, senior party leader Hunar Baig from Gojal Hunza, Karim Khan, Ghadir Shah and others activists held the government responsible for the tragedy. They demanded an independent inquiry into the incident through an international body to unmask the perpetrators of this heinous crime.

They said the establishment deter the PPP leaders and workers from the struggle for democracy, rule of law. They affirmed their determination to continue the struggle for the rights of the oppressed people, the labourers, women, downtrodden for which the late Benazir Bhutto sacrificed her life.

APP adds The leaders, workers and civil society organisations at a Rasm-i-Qul ceremony offered Fateha for the late PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto at a local hotel.

They condemned the assassination of the former prime minister and offered prayers for the departed soul.

Meanwhile chairman, District Council Astore, Habibullah and Dr Muzaffar Ralley, member Northern Areas Legislative Assembly, have strongly condemned the assassination of the former prime minister and termed it “a national tragedy and conspiracy against the country”.

In a condolence message, they expressed their heartfelt condolences with the Bhutto family.

They prayed to the Allah Almighty to rest the departed soul in eternal peace and grant courage to the members of the bereaved family and party workers to bear this irreparable loss with fortitude. Life returned to normalcy as markets were opened and traffic resumed movement on roads on fourth day of the assassination of Ms Bhutto.

The public transport service between Gilgit, Skardu, Chilas, Ghanche and rest of the country has started. Stranded vehicles and trucks have started reaching their destinations to deliver fresh vegetables and other edibles. Shops, medical stores and petrol pumps started business and great rush was observed in markets.