LARKANA, Oct 23: Homage was paid to Begum Nusrat Bhutto by a large number of PPP workers and leaders gathered in Garhi Khuda Bakhsh Bhutto on her first death anniversary on Tuesday.

The main function was held at the Bhuttos mausoleum where Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah and two provincial ministers Agha Siraj Durrani and Ayaz Soomro paid tribute to Nusrat Bhutto after participating in Quran Khawani. Activists of the PPP were raising slogans: ‘Zinda Hai Bhutto Zinda Hai’.

The chief minister and other officials laid wreaths on the graves of the Bhuttos and offered Fateha. Later food was distributed.

A delegation of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement led by Sindh Minister Haseeb Ahmed also visited the grave of Begum Nusrat Bhutto. Nisar Panhwar and zonal in-charge of Larkana Aijaz Sariyo accompanied him. They laid wreaths and offered Fateha on behalf of the MQM.

Security walk-through gates were installed to allow workers to enter the shrine.

Another function was held at the camp office of the President House in Naudero where Sanam Bhutto and women workers of the PPP held Quran Khawani.

Later, food was served to participants.

Sanam Bhutto visited Garhi Khuda Bakhsh Bhutto and laid wreaths on the graves of Z.A Bhutto, Begum Nusrat Bhutto, Mir Murtaza Bhutto and Shahnawaz Bhutto. She stayed there for sometime.

CHIEF MINISTER: Paying tribute to Begum Nusrat, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah said she had led the party in difficult times.

When Z.A. Bhutto was in Kot Lakhpat jail in a fake case in 1977, some members of the central executive committee of the PPP conspired to capture the party.

Z.A. Bhutto smelt the conspiracy and immediately installed Begum Nusrat Bhutto as PPP’s acting chairperson. She led the party with bold decisions and unshaken commitment. The CM said Gen Ziaul Haq was behind that conspiracy which had been aimed at causing a dent in the party.

Calling her a multi-dimensional personality, he said Begum Bhutto kept the party intact and played her role as a mother, a wife and a leader. She struggled for Z.A. Bhutto’s philosophy.

Addressing the gathering, Sindh Law Minister Ayaz Soomro and Minister for Local Government Agha Siraj Durrani appreciated Begum Nusrat Bhutto’s role in leading the Movement for the Restoration of Democracy in 1983.

PPP (SHAHEED BHUTTO): The PPP-SB held Quran Khawani at Al-Murtaza House. Party workers and provincial leaders participated in it.

They also held a condolence meeting to pay tribute to the struggle of Begum Nusrat Bhutto.

Later, Inayat Umrani, general secretary of the Sindh chapter the PPP-SB, led a caravan to Garhi Khuda Bakhsh Bhutto.

They laid wreaths on the graves of Z.A Bhutto, Begum Nusrat Bhutto, Benazir Bhutto, Mir Murtaza Bhutto and Shahnawaz Bhutto and offered Fateha.

Speaking on the occasion, PPP-SB leaders said the Bhuttos had the history of serving the downtrodden people, peasants and labourers.

They said words fell short to capture the brave struggle of Begum Nusrat Bhutto who led party in quite a difficult situation.

They said the death of Begum Nusrat Bhutto had raised many questions because her real heirs, Ghinwa Bhutto, Zulfikar junior and Fatima Bhutto, had been restrained from having the last glimpse of her.

They appealed to the Chief Justice of Pakistan to take notice of the murder of Mir Murtaza Bhutto and death of Begum Nusrat Bhutto.

NAWABSHAH: A large number of party workers and supporters attended Quran Khwani held at the district office of the PPP. The Sindh People’s Students Federation also held a programme.

The PPP-SB held Quran Khawani at a party office.

SUKKUR: Pakistan People’s Party, Sindh People’s Youth and Ladies Wing of the party held a programme at Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Library in Jacobabad on Tuesday.

Reports reaching here say that the event was started with Quran Khawani in the morning.

Later, a condolence meeting was held addressed by PPP General Secretary Abdul Sattar Brohi, Vice-President Sajjad Hussain Ghunio, Agha Ghazanfar Ali Pathan, Dr Noor Khan Kharani, President Youth Wing Bahadur Mugheri, District president of Doctor’s Forum Dr Azizullah Talani, Abdul Sattar Mugheri and leaders of Ladies Wing Abida Brohi, Shama Jamali, Sakina Pathan and leaders of cultural wing Asghar Dayo, Shah Nawaz Talani and others.

They paid rich tributes to Begum Nusrat Bhutto for her sacrifices for the democracy. They said she did not compromise on principles, though her husband, two sons and a daughter were killed.

They said Begum Nusrat Bhutto gave treatment to party workers like a mother.

Meanwhile, PPP-SB, Sindh People’s Student Federation (SB) and People’s Youth (SB) celebrated the first death anniversary of Begum Nusrat Bhutto at Shaheed Bhutto House in Jacobabad.

The day was started with Quran Khawani. After the whole day programmes, dinner was served and prayers offered.

Addressing on the occasion, district president of PPP-SB Syed Aslam Shah, Nadeem Qureshi, Khair Muhammad Mir Jat, Ahmed Ali Khoso, Syed Inam Shah and others said Begum Nusrat Bhutto was the great woman who had struggled for the existence of democracy as well as for the rights of poor people despite facing a lot of problems during the military regime of Gen Ziaul Haque.

HYDERABAD: PPP district council office in Hyderabad also held a programme to pay homage to Begum Nusrat Bhutto.

Speaking on the occasion, PPP leaders termed her life a complete chapter of political history of Pakistan with a view to guiding students of political science for centuries.

They said she was also an icon of struggle for democracy, human rights and pioneer of political reconciliation in the country.

The speakers included district PPP general secretary Syed Fayyaz Shah, vice-president Abdul Jabbar Khan and Haji Jam Shoro.

Earlier, Quran Khwani was held for Begum Bhutto.