ISLAMABAD, June 21 The Pakistan People's Party marked the 56th birth anniversary of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto on Sunday with a countrywide blood donation campaign for security personnel fighting militants in Malakand and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata).

President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and other party leaders and workers donated blood at camps set up at different places.

“The prime minister donated blood in the medical centre of the Prime Minister's House,” his media adviser Imran Gardezi said.

Speaking at a gathering of ministers, parliamentarians and leaders and workers of the PPP at the Convention Centre, Prime Minister Gilani pledged to continue to pursue the mission of Ms Bhutto to eradicate terrorism, root out poverty and give the people their political and democratic rights.

He said Ms Bhutto had guided the nation and encouraged the masses to remain steadfast against an oppressive system.

“She fell victim to the menace of terrorism but refused to bow before it,” he said.

Mr Gilani vowed to continue struggle against terrorism till the eradication of last terrorist from the soil of the country.

“The whole nation is sending a clear message to the terrorists that they still have time to lay down their arms, otherwise they should be prepared for consequences,” he said.

Mr Gilani said the PPP had succeeded in forming the government because of sacrifices rendered by Ms Bhutto and party workers.

He said the late leader had started dialogue with her political adversaries for the country's stability.

The prime minister called himself a representative of Ms Bhutto and promised to promote her political philosophy.

In his message on the occasion, President Zardari said the fight against militants could not be won without winning the hearts and minds of the millions driven out of their homes and forced to seek refuge in camps and elsewhere.

He urged people to join hands to banish militancy and extremism.

“To pay homage to her memory, let us pledge to expose the militants and fight them till the end,” he said.

He recalled Ms Bhutto's advice to the people to “continue the fight against extremism, dictatorship, poverty and ignorance”.

In her last public address, she had warned that the country was in mortal danger because of the threat posed by militants and asked the people to join hands against the militants and vowed to personally lead the fight, he said.

President Zardari said the militants and extremists wanted to destroy the country and the way of life of its people in the name of religion. “I assure the displaced persons that we will rebuild their houses and business places and rehabilitate them soon,” he said.

Blood donation camps were set up and seminars, Quran khwani and Fateha held in Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar, Quetta, Naudero, Multan, Ghotki, Faisalabad, Jhang, Hyderabad, Rawalpindi, Skardu, Larkana, Murree, Abbottabad, Thatta, Tank, Bahawalpur, Chitral, Mirpurkhas and other cities.