Daily Times

The 12th martyrdom anniversary of first elected woman prime minister of Pakistan Benazir Bhutto will be commemorated for the first time in Rawalpindi’s Liaqat Bagh today (Friday). A huge public meeting has been planned for the day, which will be addressed by PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari apart from other top central and provincial leadership.

Caravans of activists have already left for Rawalpindi from all four corners of Pakistan in the sizzling cold. After the mega event in Pindi, another even will begin at Benazir’s final resting place in Garhi Khuda Bakhsh, which will be participated by her youngest daughter Aseefa Bhutto Zardari as well as MNA Faryal Talpur. Early in the morning, recitation from the Holy Quran will be held at her grave, which will be followed by distribution of free food among the participants.

Foolproof security arrangements have been made for the day. People will be checked through CCTV cameras, walkthrough gates and metal detectors. Special Commando Force, policewomen and traffic police will also be deployed to ensure smooth flow of traffic and security. Teams of Bomb Disposal Squad will clear the premises before the event. Huge LED screens have also been installed to watch the PPP chairman’s address live.

Meanwhile, MNA Khurshid Junejo, MPA Nida Khuhro and other party activists reached Garhi Khuda Bakhsh and lit candles in front of a large portrait of Benazir Bhutto after sunset to pay tribute to the slain leader. Nida Khuhro on the occasion said that the train service was denied to PPP for taking its activists to participate in Rawalpindi gathering, but added that the public gathering would be remembered for a long time. She said the days of selected government were numbered, and soon people’s elected government would rule over the country. On the other hand, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that Benazir Bhutto was the strongest chain of federation of Pakistan and those who assassinated her had planned to break the chain, but failed due to “Pakistan Khappe” slogan of President Asif Ali Zardari soon after the national tragedy.

Bilawal reiterates his commitment to the mission of slain prime minister

In his message on the eve of 12th martyrdom anniversary of Benazir Bhutto, the PPP chairman paid rich tribute to her, saying that people of Pakistan would never forget their brave leader, who sacrificed everything for the country and for the rights of its downtrodden and barefoot masses. Bilawal further said that as a young daughter whose father and the most popular leader Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was hanged by dictator, she fought bravely for the ideals her father embraced the gallows for.

“She led the followers of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto into an untiring struggle against the brutal tyrant in shape of Zia. She suffered solitary confinement, imprisonments and forced exiles while fighting for restoration of democracy.”

The PPP chairman pointed out that Benazir Bhutto defeated the dictatorship and was given power under compulsion after its remnants failed to completely hijack the 1988 general elections. After elections, as the prime minister, she ordered release of all the political prisoners in the country and launched programmes for the development of country and the masses, he recalled.

He said that programmes covering health, education, poverty eradication, women development and defence, which she had launched, put the country onto the path to progress and prosperity. “The ballistic missile programme made our defence invincible in the wake of nuclear programme launched by her father Zulfikar Ali Bhutto before his judicial murder.”

Bilawal reiterated his commitment to the mission of Benazir Bhutto and pledged that he would continue the struggle with the support of Pakistani masses and the party supporters. He said that Benazir Bhutto would continue to live in the hearts and minds of the people as her legacy would never be forgotten, especially her struggle for democracy, human rights and peaceful society.