Daily Times

LAHORE: The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) held two ceremonies, first in Green Town and second in Samanabad, to commemorate the 5th death anniversary of Begum Nusrat Bhutto on Sunday. The PPP workers and leaders, including PPP General Secretary Latif Khosa, participated in the ceremonies and paid rich tributes to Begum Nusrat Bhutto for her struggle to sustain a democratic system in the country. While addressing the function, held at the residence of Barrister Amir Hasan in Samanabad, Latif Khosa said that the greatest contribution of Begum Nusrat Bhutto was that she raised Benazir Bhutto in such a way that she became a great leader and a brave daughter. He said Nusrat Bhutto faced prison sentences along with her daughter for raising her voice against General Ziaul Haq and his regime, adding that it was under her leadership that the workers upheld the flag of PPP during the martial law for freedom and human rights. While addressing the PPP workers, PPP former information secretary, Lahore, Faisal Mir, in a separate function held at Green Town, said that during her struggle against General Ziaul Haq, Begum Bhutto was deceived by many PPP stalwarts. He said that some ‘present-day’ PPP leaders, who were never part of Begum Sahiba’s struggles, refuse to recognise her contributions. He said that those leaders, who joined PPP by accidents, were so self-obsessed that they have forgotten who the real heroes were. Faisal Mir further said that if she had not initiated the struggle against martial law, General Zia would have been successful in disintegrating the PPP altogether and all these ‘brand new’ leaders in our party would have been living in obscurity. He said that recent political rally by PPP Chairman Bilawal in Karachi has demonstrated that the chairman would fulfil the dreams of Z.A. Bhutto, Begum Nusrat Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto. On the occasion, former People’s Labour Bureau in-charge Abdul Qadir Shaheen and ex-president PPP zone 154 Lahore, Dr Zarrar Yusaf said that they held the privilege of working with Begum Nusrat Bhutto as her assistant and typist during the martial law. Dr Zarrar disclosed that after the death sentence was announce for Z.A. Bhutto, in an effort to save his life, Begum Sahiba dictated me hundreds of letters addressed to international leaders. He further said that Begum Nusrat Bhutto shared the grief of poor masses.