The 7th death anniversary of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto was observed in all districts of Punjab with great reverence on 27th December 2014. Districts Party leadership and workers paid rich tributes to their martyred leaders for her services to the country and party that led to her ultimate martyrdom.
Punjab Chapter’s Function:
The main function is held at the PPP Secretariat in Model Town, party’s Punjab chapter president Manzoor Wattoo said extremism and terrorism had to be defeated because other options would prove an exercise in futility.
He said the nation was united to eliminate terrorists from its soil as the extremists could not be allowed to impose “toxic ideology” at gunpoint.
“The present rulers had good contacts with extremists and their patrons and won the elections with their support,” Wattoo said.
He said the Peshawar tragedy was the most heinous crime of the same mindset that assassinated Benazir Bhutto. He said some leaders had been doing politics while sitting in foreign countries but BB did the politics for the poor.
He recalled that Zulfikar Ali Bhutto gave the Constitution that empowered the people with the right to vote. The PPP government had restored the 1973 Constitution through the 18th Amendment, which was mutilated by the successive dictators just to perpetuate their rule.
PPP Secretary-General Latif Khosa said the PPP was the victim of “delayed law” because the presidential reference of ZA Bhutto and the case of Benazir had not been taken up by courts despite a lapse of many years.
Azizur Rehman Chan said the assassination of Benazir and the Peshawar tragedy were the crimes committed by the same mindset.
Jehan Ara Wattoo, head S media Punjab said that now the supporters of sit-ins saw sense in taking the terrorists head-on.
The PPP leaders and workers also held a candlelit vigil as an expression of respect for Benazir and the victims of Peshawar tragedy. They also held Quran Khwani for the departed souls.
Lahore Chapter’s Function:
Lahore Chapter organised a seminar at Aiwan-e-Iqbal to pay tribute to the late Benazir Bhutto. The seminar was addressed by PPP central leader and opposition leader in Senate Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahmed, Mian Manzoor Ahmad Wattoo, president Punjab, Samina Khalid Gurki, president Lahore, Prof Mahdi Hassan, Zahid Zulifqar Khan, Fazalur Rehman Butt, Ch Ghulam Mustafa, Saddique Azhar and Dr Khalid Jaan.
Speaking on this occasion, Aitzaz Ahsan said that Pakistan People’s Party was itself the biggest victim of terrorism in the country, as the terrorist martyred Benazir Bhutto, bringing down a great minaret of politics in Pakistan.
Samina Ghurki said the day was troublesome for all diehard workers and all democracy-loving Pakistanis because their beloved leader separated form them on the same day seven year ago, but she was still with them even after her martyrdom.
She said that the PPP was all united and Bilawal Bhutto was furthering the mission of his mother and grandfather.
Prof Dr Mehdi Hassan said that as many 11 Jiyalas (diehard workers) had given their life in protest when ZA Bhutto was hanged. “The party doesn’t build up on the basis of slogans but on the basis of welfare work and practical contributions.”
Lahore Division Rural:
Nankana Sahib:
Islamabad Chapter’s Function:
Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) will keep alive the vision of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto for the progress and development of the country. “We will leave no stone unturned for the development of the country, as per the vision of BB Shaheed,” said President PPP’s Islamabad city Faisal Sakhi Butt, at a ceremony held to offer prayers on the 7th death anniversary of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto.
PPP’s Islamabad chapter leaders Akhtar Ali Khan, Sahibzada Zulfiqar, Sheikh Hameed and other attended the ceremony, which was held at F-8 Markaz. They paid tributes to their slain leader and also prayed for the eternal souls of the victims of Peshawar tragedy as a token of solidarity with the bereaved families.
“Both PPP’s leader Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and his daughter Benazir Bhutto sacrificed their lives but never compromised on sovereignty and independence of the country,” he said.
“Former PM Benazir Bhutto had started a large number of development and welfare programmes for the people of this country,” he said, adding that her services would always be remembered.
Rawalpindi Chapter’s Function:
Activists and workers of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), Rawalpindi chapter, on Saturday paid glowing tributes to the former prime minister, Benazir Bhutto for her services to the cause of democracy in the country.
On the occasion of former PPP chairperson’s 7th death anniversary, party’s district leadership demanded of the government to investigate Bhutto’s assassination under the new ‘National Action Plan’, adding that would strengthen the efforts being taken to combat the menace of terrorism.
“What our brave leader predicted has proven true. Those who were terming Taliban as their brothers are now appealing for help to fight Taliban’s barbarism,” said PPP Divisional Coordinator Raja Imran Ashraf, while talking to The Express Tribune.
He said that Bhutto was assassinated under a well-planned conspiracy that had yet to be uncovered.
“We want to see the ugly faces of her killers just to tell them that she is still alive and her mission is being carried on by thousands of her supporters,” Ashraf said.
Addressing the participants of the rally, PPP leader Zamarud Khan said that Benazir was alive in the hearts and the minds of the people.
“She was a leader of international stature who laid down her life for the supremacy of the constitution and democracy in Pakistan,” he said.
Khan said the day Bhutto was assassinated, was the darkest in the history of the country.
“If Bhutto was alive, Pakistan would have joined the league of developed countries,” he said.
Khan said they would pursue the mission of Benazir Bhutto till their last breath and would never succumb to the pressure of the anti-democratic forces that wanted to destroy the institutions of the country.
“She inherited an ideology of sacrifices for the cause of democracy, serving the downtrodden and of [struggling for the] supremacy of constitution. Neither dictatorship nor weapons can kill this ideology,” said former MNA Haji Gulzar Muhammad Awan.
The rally ended with prayers for Bhutto.
Meanwhile, members of PPP labour and women and youth wings as well as doctors’ and lawyers’ forums reached Liaquat Bagh where Bhutto was assassinated on December 27, 2007 to homage to their leader.
Earlier, rallies from various cities and union councils including Taxila, Gujjar Khan, Murree, Jehlum, Attock and Chakwal started reaching the garrison city since morning.
The activists visited the memorial site at Liaquat Bagh.
Moreover, special congregations were also organised by local chapters of the party throughout the district in memory of the former prime minister.
Sahiwal Division’s Activities:
Okara:
Paying tribute to Shaheed Benazir Bhutto for sacrificing her life to restore democracy in the country, many workers lit clay lamps, using their own blood as fuel.
PSF Okara organized a function at Gole Chowk Okara to pay a rich tribute to Shaheed Benazir Bhutto
Sahiwal Chapter’s Function:
Pakpatan Chapter’s activities:
The PPP Pakpatan chapter observed 7th martyrdom anniversary of former prime minister Shaheed Benazir Bhutto with great reverence, fervour and solemnity.
PPP jiyalas in the city also arranged a motorcycle rally as well as paid tribute through candlelight vigil.
The participants of the rally also hoisted PPP flags and portraits of the party leadership, especially of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Shaheed Benazir Bhutto and, Former President Asif Ali Zardari and Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.
Gujranwala Division’s Function:
Gujranwala City:
The seventh Martyrdom anniversary of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto was observed in Gujranwala.
Gujranwal District:
Sialkot Chapter’s Function:
The seventh Martyrdom anniversary of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto was observed in Sialkot.
Hafizabad:
Mandi Bahawudin:
Faisalabad Division Activities:
Faisalabad District:
Faisalabad City:/strong>
Sargodha Division Activities:
Bhakar District:
Mian Manzoor Ahmad Wattoo has saluted the workers for observing Martyrdom Day of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto
Mian Manzoor Wattoo saluted the workers and office bearers of the PPP workers for observing the martyrdom day of Mohtrama Benazir Bhutto yesterday in Lahore and at all the district headquarters in which rich tributes were paid to their beloved leader. The occasion was synonymous with rare manifestation of the highest esteem the workers held their beloved leader who sacrificed her life for the cause of democracy and rights of the poor people.
He said that the occasion was marked with the expression of solidarity with the families of the Peshawar victims and also prayed for the eternal peace for the departed souls.
