Daily Times

LAHORE: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that his mother, Benazir Bhutto, was punished for raising voice against terrorism.

Bilawal was addressing hundreds of thousands workers and supporters who were gathered in Garhi Khuda Baksh to eulogize their beloved leader Benazir Bhutto on her 10 death anniversary.

“Oh my leader, today word is burning in the fire of terrorism and the eastern and western frontiers are insecure as Pakistan is remembering you in such a grave situation when the country has been engulfed in terrorism,” Bilawal said referring to his mother.

He said Musharraf was responsible for his mother’s assassination.

During his address, Bilawal chanted the slogans “Qatil, Qatil”, targeting Musharraf.

He also accused the ruling government of damaging the sanctity of democracy.

“Oh my leader, the rulers have damaged the sanctity of parliament and democracy, country has trapped in heavy burden of debts, peasants and labourers are being economically murdered, the schools and prayer places have also become insecure,” Bilawal continued, adding the rulers who were blaming others for corruption “they themselves had been exposed as big thief”.

Bilawal paid rich tributes to his mother and said that those who dragged her to courts are now themselves crying outside the courts trying to prove themselves innocents.

He went on saying that today the politics has been trapped under the leadership of hypocrites and the person, apparently pointing out PTI chairman Imran Khan, who never offered condolence on Benazir’s martyrdom was holding rallies and terming you oppressed.

He said that he will revive the lost respect of democracy and will strengthen it.

Bilawal further promised that he would not distract from Benazir’s path.

“Musharraf killed my mother”

Earlier, the PPP chairman held former president Pervez Musharraf responsible for the murder of his mother Benazir Bhutto, in an interview to BBC.

“Musharraf exploited this entire situation to assassinate my mother,” he said, adding Musharraf purposely sabotaged Benazir’s security so that she would be assassinated and taken off the scene.

He further said that Musharraf directly threatened late Benazir and told that her security was based on the state of relationship with him.

When asked by the interviewer that a segment considers his father, former president Asif Ali Zardari, responsible for Benazir’s murder, he said that this assumption is like “calling an innocent an oppressor”.

Benazir was a brave leader: Zardari

Paying rich tribute to Benazir Bhutto, PPP co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari said Benazir was a visionary leader whose legacy would live on generations.

Addressing the gathering, the former president said the party is taking on the Bhutto’s vision.

Referring to PML-N’s gripe, Zardari said PML-N had always issues with the PPP.

“We will not support you this time, as time and again you have backstabbed us,” he asserted.

Zardari declared that he has to move forward by taking care of the party.

Former Prime Minister Yousif Raza Gillani, Aitzaz Ahsan, Sindh Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, Nisar Khuhro also addressed the gathering. Both the daughters of Benazir Bhutto, Bakhtawar Bhutto Zardari and Aseefa Bhutto Zardari kept on wiping off tears from their faces whenever Bilawal talked about Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto.

Strict security arrangements were made on this occasion.