Death anniversary of ZA Bhutto marked in KP

THE NEWS

The participants at the 33rd death anniversary function of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) founding chairman Zulfikar Ali Bhutto on Wednesday vowed to follow the principles of their leader and render every sacrifice for the attainment of the rights of people. The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chapter of the PPP organised the main function at a hall opposite the Gulbahar Police Station where the emotionally-charged activists chanted slogans in favour of their party and its leadership. The venue was decorated with tricolour flags, banners and portraits of PPP leaders. However, some supporters and opponents of Federal Minister for Communications Arbab Alamgir Khan marred the event by making hullabaloo. The PPP activists, who had decided not to display the portrait of any minister and office-bearer, objected to the picture of Arbab Alamgir. Both the groups started chanting slogans in favour and against Arbab Alamgir. However, they ended the protest when the senior party leaders intervened. Provincial secretary information Syed Ayub Shah, former district nazim Azam Afridi, district president Israr Nahaqi, Akbar Khan Advocate, Ahmad Faheem, Tahir Abbas and others spoke on the occasion. Syed Ayub Shah said Zulfikar Ali Bhutto had formed the PPP to rid the country of capitalists and landlords and give relief to the poor, but the current party leaders have deviated from the basic policy. He said ZA Bhutto had sent five million Pakistanis abroad during his government to strengthen the economy. He said the anti-PPP forces started hatching conspiracies against their leader and the imperialists forces succeeded in removing him but the brave jiyalas did not give up the struggle. He said the four-year performance of the PPP-led government was zero and it had let them down. He said the PPP government did not provide relief to the poor and this would mean there would be no one to drum up support for the party nominees in the next general elections. He said the governors, prime minister and ministers would have to come out of their offices if they wanted to win the elections. Azam Afridi said the services of Bhutto family could not be forgotten as he said made the country an atomic power. He said the current PPP leadership had disappointed them and it would be difficult to save the party if the situation remained the same. Some of the PPP activists who spoke on the occasion opposed any future alliance with the Awami National Party (ANP) and asked the central leadership to pull out of the coalition for the better future of the party and its workers. Wearing tricolour caps, the participants responded to the slogans and vowed to follow the directives of their leaders to foil the conspiracies of the anti- PPP forces bent upon dislodging the government. Terming ZA Bhutto a great philosopher and leader of international stature, they shed light on his life and urged the workers to spread his message. The said the PPP was ruling Pakistan due to the sacrifices rendered by Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto. Meanwhile, PPP Charsadda chapter president Farah Aslam Khan eulogised the services of ZA Bhutto and said her party leaders rendered unmatched sacrifices for the cause of democracy and did not bow before dictators. She said the rulers ignored the sincere and dedicated party workers after the assassination of Benazir Bhutto. MARDAN: PPP activists offered Quran Khwani and Fateha Khwani for the soul of ZA Bhutto on the occasion of his 33rd death anniversary at the residence of provincial council member Syed Abid Ali Shah. The speakers reiterated their commitment to follow the principles of their late leaders in letter and spirit. PPP gatherings were also held in all the districts of the province including Chitral, Nowshera, Swat, Lower Dir, Upper Dir, Dera Ismail Khan and Abbottabad.