HYDERABAD, Dec 30: Sindh Taraqi Pasand Party chairman Dr Qadir Magsi has said that Benazir Bhutto was a statesperson of international repute and her martyrdom was an irreparable loss for Pakistan and Sindh. He also said that democracy had suffered a tremendous setback because of her death.

He was addressing a group of people at Taraqi Pasand House where the Quran Khwani was held for the departed soul.

He said Ms Bhutto was assassinated because she was a Sindhi and she had launched a struggle against military dictatorship and to restore democracy in the country.

He said she had become a pain in the neck of the dictators as she was opposed to army operation in Balochistan and had condemned the murders of Akbar Bugti and Balaach Mari. He said lies were being spread by the Interior Ministry about the cause of her death and alleged that she was eliminated under a planned conspiracy.

He said all evidences which could have provided some clue to her murder had been removed and the demand to get the case investigated through international agencies, had been rejected by the rulers for obvious reasons.

Dr Magsi severely criticised the ‘Punjabi establishment, MQM, Arbab Rahim and Liaquat Jatoi’. He vowed that the blood of Benazir Bhutto would not be allowed to go in vain.

The others who spoke on the occasion included Ms Sehar Rizvi and Muzaffar Kalhoro.

PEACE APPEAL: Expressing profound sorrow and grief over the sad demise of PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto, district nazim Hyderabad Kanwar Naveed Jamil has appealed to the people especially political activists to remain peaceful and try to control their emotions.

In a statement issued here on Sunday, he said, Benazir Bhutto was one of the most popular leaders and the country had suffered an irreparable loss in her death. He, however, said the people should control their sentiments so that the miscreants could be prevented from causing any damage to public and private properties.

He said flour stalls had been set up under the supervision of UC nazims to ensure the supply of flour to consumers at the government announced rates. He said with the help of law-enforcement agencies, many petrol pumps in the city had been made operational and expressed the hope that the situation will be normalised by Monday.

He said efforts were also being made to ensure the supply of other consumer items at reasonable rates.

LUMHS: The deputy registrar, Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences Jamshoro, here on Sunday, has announced that winter vacations have been extended up to January 5 and the regular classes will commence with effect from Jan 7. All the scheduled examinations and interviews have been postponed till the next announcement.