- Nation remembers services of Benazir Bhutto Shaheed for making Pakistan as a modern and progressive state and commitment to fight armed religious fanatics: Zardari
The 9th death anniversary of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto is being observed throughout the country Tuesday (today). In order to mark the day with due respect, a number of events have been planned throughout the country.
Early in the morning, there will be Quaran khani and Asif Zardari, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, other family members and leaders will lay floral wreaths at the mazar of Benazir Bhutto and other leaders of Bhutto family.
The PPP has decided to organize a big public meeting on December 27, at Garhi Khuda Bakhsh Bhutto to pay tribute to the great leader in recognition of her life-long struggle for the cause of democracy and protection of rights of the people.
The meeting will be addressed by PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and also by Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari who has especially flown back home to attend the death anniversary.
Asif Ali Zardari and Bilawal Bhutto Zardari will make important announcements at the public meeting about the future course of direction of PPP politics.
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The Sindh government has made special security arrangements and effective arrangements have been made to ensure a smooth flow of traffic on all important roads in Sindh because convoys would be coming from all over the country to attend the death anniversary.
Entry to Mazar of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto at Garhi Khuda Bakhsh, Larkana would only be after passage through walk-through gates and checking with metal detectors.
In this regard, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has held several meetings to ensure hassle free observance of the death anniversary.
Benazir Bhutto’s was assassinated on December 27, 2007, as she led a rally in Rawalpindi. She is buried in the magnificent white Garhi Khuda Bux mausoleum along with her father Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto.
In a statement on the eve of the death anniversary of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, PPP Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari said : “Today we pay homage to Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto for her vision about Pakistan as a modern and progressive state and for her commitment to fighting armed religious fanatics from hijacking the state and society away from her vision”.
“She knew full well that the hounds of extremism and religious fanaticism were out to remove her from their path. She also had the choice to opt for an easy path and not resist the fanatics. But she had a dream and a vision for the people of Pakistan. For the realisation of this dream, she laid down her life while leading the fight from the front. Today as we pay her homage our heads also bow in gratitude” Zardari said.
“Such is the stuff of which the leaders and workers of the Pakistan People’s Party are made. The Party is proud of its inspirational leaders. Let there be no doubt or mistake in the minds of those who are scheming against the Party with a malice that is floating on the surface for everyone to see. They will not be allowed to succeed no matter what the cost and what the odds”, the PPP co-Chairman said.
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He said on this occasion we salute Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto and all those who laid down their lives in fighting for upholding the values of democracy, constitutionalism, and rule of law, he said. If militants have not succeeded in their designs it is because of their sacrifices; we salute them all, he said.
The Party will fight the barbarians seeking to take over the state and install what they call caliphate. Their agenda is no different from that of Daesh in Iraq and Syria, Al –Shabbab in Kenya and Boko Haram inNigeria. We also pay homage to those fighting the militants as well those who suffered exile, imprisonment, and execution in fighting dictatorship, he said.
-Bilawal, Zardari address-
Asif Ali Zardari will make his first major appearance alongside his son and party chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari after return from an 18-month self-imposed exile.
Workers’ caravans were arriving in the dusty village from different parts of the country and were being guided by party volunteers to their designated camps established inside the main venue.
Tricolour party flags, banners and life-size portraits of Benazir Bhutto, Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and Asif Ali Zardari adorn the venue of the public meeting as well as the route to the venue.
Reception camps have been set up in Larkana and adjoining towns which are welcoming participants with party songs being played at full volume. Almost all hotels have been booked to capacity though they had raised the rent to take advantage of the event.
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