Political leaders across the political divide expressed grief over the death of Begum Nusrat Bhutto, the wife of former prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and mother of Benazir Bhutto, who passed away in Dubai on Sunday after prolonged illness.
Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) General Secretary Jahangir Badr said the demise of Nusrat Bhutto had deeply saddened the party. Dr Babar Awan, who was informed about Nusrat’s demise during his address at a gathering in Sheikhupura, abandoned his speech and expressed sorrow over her passing.
He said that Nusrat was a great lady who courageously faced not only the killing of her husband Zulfikar Ali Bhutto but also the death of two sons and daughter Benazir Bhutto. Punjab Governor Sardar Latif Khosa also expressed grief over the death of Begum Nusrat Bhutto and said she was a symbol of struggle who had rendered great sacrifices for the restoration of democracy and fought against the forces of dictatorship.
In a joint press statement, Punjab Assembly Opposition Leader Raja Riaz, PPP Punjab President Imtiaz Safdar Warraich and other PPP leaders said that the sacrifices of the late Nusrat Bhutto for democracy would be remembered forever. National Assembly Speaker Dr Fehmida Mirza and Women’s Parliamentary Caucus (WPC) Secretary Dr Nafisa Shah expressed shock and sorrow over her demise.
In a message to the Bhutto family, the speaker termed Nusrat’s death not only a personal loss but also a loss for the people of Pakistan. Dr Nafisa termed Nusrat Bhutto an icon of women’s empowerment, adding that her struggle for women’s rights would always be remembered. The PPP leaders who had developed differences with the party’s leadership such as Naheed Khan, Safdar Abbasi and Zulfiqar Mirza also expressed grief over the demise of Begum Nusrat Bhutto.
Pakistan Muslim League–Nawaz (PML-N) President Nawaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said Nusrat’s death was a great loss for the Bhutto family as well as the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP). They said Nusrat was a great lady who had made immense sacrifices for her family and the political strength of the PPP. PML-Quaid President Shujaat Hussain and Senior Minister Pervaiz Elahi said in a joint condolence message that Nusrat Bhutto was a brave lady and she had played an important role in national politics.
Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) chief Munawar hassan and General Secretary Liaqat Baloch expressed sorrow over Nusrat’s passing and prayed that God may grant her soul eternal peace. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan remembered the services that Nusrat had rendered to the cause of democracy in the country. He prayed for the salvation of the departed soul and expressed sympathy with the members of her family.
Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain also expressed sorrow over the demise of Nusrat Bhutto. In a condolence message, he paid tribute to her struggle against dictatorship in the country, adding that her services for the country would never be forgotten. Fiza Batool Gilani, Goodwill Ambassador for Women Empowerment condoled the demise of Begum Nusrat Bhutto. Fiza said Nusrat’s contributions to women’s empowerment would be remembered for a long time.
All Pakistan Muslim League (APML) chief and former president Pervez Musharraf and the central leadership of the APML also expressed their grief at Nusrat’s demise. In his message, Musharraf said Nusrat had a great personality that had held the PPP together during its most difficult times. Awami National Party (ANP) General Secretary Ahsan Wayne, in his condolence message, expressed sorrow over Nusrat’s death and paid tribute to her courage.
Quaid-e-Millat Jafariya Agha Syed Hamid Ali Shah Moosavi also expressed his condolences on the demise of Nusrat Bhutto. In a condolence message addressed to the Bhutto family and the workers of the PPP, he paid tribute to the struggle, sacrifices and services rendered by the late leader.
