PESHAWAR, Dec 27: Local leaders of Pakistan People’s Party in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Thursday called upon the party’s central leadership, including its co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari, to take prompt steps for arresting killers of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto otherwise accomplishment of her mission would be a difficult task for the workers.

In Peshawar, several leaders speaking at a seminar asked the leadership to give due respect to party workers and give a serious thought to solving problems of unemployment, energy crisis and terrorism in the country.

The seminar was arranged by People’s Doctors Forum in connection with the fifth death anniversary of Benazir Bhutto at Peshawar Press Club.

The leaders criticised the PPP-led government for its failure to trace and arrest BB’s killers despite its five years in power.

The speakers included PPP senior vice-president Azam Khan Afridi, provincial coordinator Ayub Shah, People’s Labour Bureau’s Tila Mohammad, Aurangzeb Khan, Saeed Ahmad and Safia Israr.

They said that the PPP had a clear agenda to provide food, clothes and shelter to deserving people.

Expressing his dismay over the government’s failure to arrest Benazir’s killers, Ayub Shah said that sacrifices of Bhutto family would never go waste, as the party workers were determined to follow in the footsteps of Benazir for strengthening democracy.

“We promise to continue our efforts for the wellbeing of the country, but the killers of BB should be exposed so that the workers could identify their enemies,” he said. Mr Shah asked his leaders to pay due status to committed party workers.

PPP labour wing president Saeed Ahmad said that the government should arrest killers of Benazir. He said that the party could not be strengthened without empowerment of poor people.

“Our leaders have always violated the party manifesto and showed nepotism by granting jobs to family members, relatives and personal friends instead of committed workers and poor people,” he alleged.

PDF president Prof Nisar, who presided over the seminar, asked the provincial health department to solve the problems being faced by People’s Doctors Forum.

Through a unanimous resolution the participants asked the PPP leadership to give due respect to party workers and resolve the issues of unemployment, energy crisis and terrorism.

Several other corner meetings were held in parts of the provincial metropolis to pay tribute to the slain PPP leader.

In Mansehra, the PPP activists arranged Quran Khwani and special prayers for their leader, who was assassinated five years ago in Rawalpindi at the end of a public meeting. PPP local leader Malik Sohrab and others demanded of the government to expose the killers of Benazir.

In Karak, a large number of PPP workers attended the ceremony to observe the death anniversary of Benazir.

Speaking on the occasion, local leader Rauf Khattak condemned the acts of terrorism and demanded of the government to take practical steps to curb terrorism in the country.

In Swabi, PPP activists held a meeting, which was presided over by PPP district president Javed Iqbal, to recall the achievements of Benazir.

In Bajaur Agency, the party workers observed the death anniversary and held gatherings to highlight of Benazir’s struggle for democracy.

In Gilgit, the death anniversary of Benazir was observed with a pledge that all-out efforts would be made for democracy to nurture in the country.

The PPP organised several gatherings across Gilgit-Baltistan to pay homage to their leader who fought for the rights of the poor.

Party workers organised functions in Gilgit, Ghizer, Diamer, Chilas, Astor, Skardu, Ghanche and Hunza Nagar. In Gilgit, the main event was organised at the main secretariat where members of the assembly, GB Council and PPP activists paid homage to the slain leader.

In Chitral city, the PPP workers gathered at town hall where local leaders, including Shah Murad, said that they would carry on the mission of Bhuttos and strengthen democracy in the country.