ZAB death anniversary: Tributes showered on former prime minister

Rich tributes PPP founder in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, FATA, Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan.

PESHAWAR:

To mark the 32nd death anniversary of former Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, rich tributes were paid to the late Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) founder in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata), Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) on Monday. In K-P and Fata, the occasion was observed with a renewed pledge to make Pakistan a modern, progressive and democratic welfare state in line with his vision.

“Bhutto initiated the nuclear programme and rendered the defence of Pakistan impregnable,” said K-P senior PPP leader and Former District Nazim Azim Afridi. He was addressing a seminar under the auspices of K-P People’s Doctors Forum at Peshawar Press Club on Monday.

Similar functions were also held at all agency headquarter Fata where the speakers highlighted different aspects of Bhutto’s life. They said Simla Agreement is another hallmark of the  leader’s political achievement. Even his better critics now accept him as a great man of the modern age and his admirers consider him as a man of vision and destiny.

SWAT

The anniversary was observed with due reverence in Swabi District. A function was held at the residence of Munfat Khan, a prominent industrialist of the area.

Senior Minister Rahimdad Khan said that Bhutto was a towering personality of 20th century and was a leader of international stature whose murder had created a political vacuum in regional and world politics that was yet to be filled. The PPP leader added that leaders like Bhutto are born in centuries.

He said Pakistan relations with Arab Countries were strengthened during the Bhutto regime as evident from the successful Lahore submit in 1974.

KOTLI

Supporters of Pakistan People’s Party took out big rallies to pay homage to Bhutto by remembering his services for nation. Functions were arranged in various parts of the city. In the ceremonies, speakers said that Bhutto gave his life for democracy, country and poor people.

MIRPUR (AJK)

A ceremony was held in Mirpur, in which Senior Provincial Minister Rahimdad Khan urged party workers to whole heartedly devote themselves to the mission of the Bhuttos who sacrificed their lives for development of the country.

He said, “The ideology of Zulfikar Bhutto would remain alive in the hearts and minds of people who categorically stated that people were the source of real power.”

GILGIT

The occasion was observed in Gilgit with G-B Governor Pir Karam Ali Shah and others paying tribute the late leader’s services for the country.

PPP G-B had arranged a function in the main secretariat of PPP where party workers and leaders participated.

“If Bhutto wasn’t murdered, Pakistan would be an Asian Tiger today,” said Governor Karam Ali Shah while addressing the ceremony. He said that Bhutto is the symbol of courage and he struggled for the democracy in Pakistan. “He sacrificed his life for the same cause.” Apart from governor, Forests Advisor Aftab Haider, G-B Legislative Council Member Amjad Hussain and other party leaders were also present. app

With additional reporting by our correspondent from gilgit

Published in The Express Tribune, April 5^th, 2011.