Bilawal Bhutto says committed to Benazir’s mission

Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Wednesday said the PPP was fully committed to the ‘mission’ and ‘vision’ of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, and “she continues to guide the party and its leadership from her eternal abode”. “It was the sacrifice of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto that strengthened democracy,” Bilawal said while addressing a large number of jubilant leaders and party workers who celebrated the late Bhutto’s 64th birthday. People from various parts of the country gathered at Garhi Khuda Bakhsh where they cut the birthday cake and paid tribute to the slain leader who was assassinated on December 27, 2007.

During the ceremony at Naudero, Bilawal cut the cake of his mother’s birthday and visited Garhi Khuda Bakhsh where he along with other leaders laid floral wreath on the graves of his mother Benazir, grandfather Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and others.

Many party leaders, including Bakhtawar Bhutto Zardari, Aseefa Bhutto Zardari, Faryal Talpur, PPP Sindh President Nisar Khuhro, Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, former chief minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Waqar Mehdi, political secretary to chairman Jameel Soomro also participated in the event. However, PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari was missing from the event. Bilawal reiterated Bhutto’s message that ‘democracy is the best revenge’, pointing out that it was Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto who challenged extremism and militancy and commanded the nation during the fight against terrorism, eventually embracing martyrdom.

He said Benazir lived and laid down her life for the cause of downtrodden people while fighting tyranny.

“Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto was dragged from court to court for three decades and held in solitary confinement by the dictatorial regime and their handpicked henchmen. But she remained steadfast and fought against undemocratic forces valiantly till her last drop of blood,” PPP chairman said. He said that the people of Pakistan were indebted to the great icon of democracy who sacrificed her everything for them and their future. Pledging that the PPP would continue its struggle where Shaheed Bibi left, Bilawal said that he would follow the guidelines of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto to get rid of “injustices, inequality and exploitation” and for an egalitarian and welfare state of Pakistan.

On the other hand, the PPP Karachi division also organised an event in connection with the birthday celebrations of Benazir Bhutto. PPP Karachi division president Dr Asim Hussain, Nabil Gabool, Zulfiqar Qaimkhani and others attended the event held at PPP secretariat. The leaders cut cake and paid tribute to Benazir Bhutto.