Pakistan observes 15th martyrdom anniversary of Benazir Bhutto

Karachi: The 15th martyrdom anniversary of former Prime Minister and Chairperson Pakistan People's Party (PPP), Shaheed Mohtarama Benazir Bhutto is being observed on Tuesday.

In connection with the day, anniversary proceedings will be held at Garhi Khuda Bakhsh Bhutto in Larkana on Tuesday that will start at 1pm followed by a public meeting which will be addressed by PPP Chairman and foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Syed Yousif Raza Gilani, Nisar Ahmed Khuhro, Chief Minister Sindh Syed Murad Ali Shah and central party leaders.

It will be attended by party workers from across the country to pay homage to their leader who sacrificed her life for the cause of democracy.

A documentary about life achievements of Benazir Bhutto will be displayed on the occasion.

The workers and party leaders have started to reach Larkana Naudero and Garhi Khuda Bakhsh to attend the death anniversary of Benazir Bhutto.

The PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari issued a message and said that Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto’s vision and philosophy of reconciliation was a feasible strategy to resolve domestic and international issues as well as a world’s shared legacy.

In his message Bilawal paid glowing tribute to his mother and said that they remembered her everyday and got guidance from her vision and ideology, adding that she was a charismatic leader with an understanding far ahead of her time, which was born in centuries.

“Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto always taught never to hate anyone and to forgive others,” he added.

“It is also the achievement of Benazir Bhutto’s ideology that the democratic forces in the country today are on the same page and are determined to tackle the challenges facing the nation,” he said.

He further stated: “PPP was also determined to continue its struggle to make Pakistan a strong democratic federal country and a role model for the Islamic world, to ensure social as well as economic justice by strengthening the parliament and democracy”.

Meanwhile, the Minister for Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety, Shazia Marri said PPP was continuing the mission of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto to uphold the supremacy of democracy for which she sacrificed her life, while sharing a video message.

Shazia Marri said that December 27, 2022, marks the 15th martyrdom anniversary of  Benazir Bhutto.

“On this day we visit the tomb of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto to pay homage to the lady who fought a lot for democracy, human rights and economic rights of people in Pakistan,” she said.

She added that many workers of the Pakistan People’s Party were also martyred on the same day, but even today, Pakistan People’s Party is committed to the mission of its martyred leader.

The Minister said the Benazir Income Support Program is associated with the name of Benazir Bhutto, a program that she herself had dreamed of.

This program, which provides income support to 8.5 million poor families, was started by former President Asif Ali Zardari after her martyrdom, she said.

“Let us make this determination that we have to make Pakistan a developed and progressive country,” she concluded.

Benazir Bhutto, the first woman to become prime minister of a Muslim country, was assassinated on December 27, 2007 in an attack after addressing an election rally in Rawalpindi.