Daily Times

LAHORE: Aseefa Bhutto Zardari, daughter of former prime minister Shaheed Benazir Bhutto and former president Asif Ali Zardari and sister of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, on a brief visit to the city, reached Jehangir Bader’s residence to express condolences with his family on Tuesday.

Paying rich tribute to the democratic services of the late PPP leader, Aseefa Bhutto said that Jehangir Bader was just like her uncle who remained loyal to her mother during the struggle for restoration of democracy in Pakistan.

Aseefa said that Jehangir Bader faced many hardships during General Ziaul Haq’s martial law in order to restore democracy in Pakistan, adding that his death was not only a big loss for the party, but also for the nation, as he was one of the true believers in democratic values and political ethics.

She lauded Bader for his untiring efforts towards upliftment of the downtrodden segment of the society, saying that his selfless endeavours were reminiscent to the manifesto of PPP and his services as a true PPP worker would never be forgotten. She said that Jehangir Bader was one of the dedicated companions of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto, as he stood by them through thick and thin. She also expressed hope that the children of the PPP stalwart, along with the PPP leadership, would continue the political struggle of their father to strengthen the party.

She prayed for eternal peace of the departed soul and grant of courage to the bereaved family to bear the irreparable loss with fortitude.

The PPP sources told Daily Times that party chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, who is in Dubai these days, would also be visiting Lahore to condole with the Bader’s family next week.

Punjab CM Shahbaz Sharif as well as PTI leader and former Punjab governor Chaudhry Sarwar also visited the Bader’s residence and prayed for the departed soul.