Thousands of jiyalas from all parts of the country thronged the mausoleum of Pakistan People’s Party founder Zulfikar Ali Bhutto in Garhi Khuda Bux to observe his 37th death anniversary on Monday.
PPP workers, activists and leaders started arriving in the ancestral town of Bhuttos from Sunday evening, with caravans continuing to descend on Garhi Khuda Bux till Monday evening.
PPP leaders, including Bilawal, had already been camped at Naudero House. In the morning, Quran Khwani was held at the mausoleum for the PPP founder, which was attended by party workers and local leaders, after which fateha was offered.
Stern security checks had been put in place and several walkthrough gates installed to screen visitors before being allowed to enter the venue. Around 7,000 policemen, 300 Rangers personnel, commandos and lady police constables were deployed to secure the area.
Earlier in the day, PPP-Shaheed Bhutto took out a rally. In her address, Bhutto’s daughter-in-law Ghinwa Bhutto criticised the present PPP leadership and blamed them of serving vested interests instead of doing something for the welfare of the people. She paid glowing tribute to Bhutto, and said he was the real people’s leader who gave the public political vision and awareness.