He was speaking to the mourners gathered at the Bhutto mausoleum in Garhi Khuda Bux to observe Benazir Bhutto’s fourth death anniversary.
Expressing his disappointment with the media, Zardari said that he has asked his party workers not to attend any media programs as they only aim at creating rift between different politicians.
The President also claimed that his government has managed to achieve 80% of their objectives. He further criticised the judiciary and said that he wished the courts were under his control.
Senior leaders, members as well as supporters of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) were gathered at the mausoleum to pay tribute to their late leader.
The rally, organised at the venue by the party, was addressed by President Zardari, PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani and other senior party leaders later during the day.
Six thousand policemen were positioned around the area, alongside Rangers and other security personnel to secure the venue, while a camp was established to treat the thousands thronging the mausoleum.
End of live updates
4:55pm
PPP leader Aitzaz Ahsan says the Bhutto mausoleum is the “graveyard of the martyrs”, adding that martyrs are those who can see death staring at them before dying but they still do not change their paths, and Zulfikar Ali Bhutto did not change his path either.
“This rally is not happening in a big city like Lahore or Karachi. It is happening in a small town further away from the big cities, and people from far away have come to attend it.”
Ahsan said that when Benazir would speak at international forums, she would leave everyone impressed. He added that Benazir was herself the former prime minister and was also the daughter of a prime minister and yet she would sit outside the jail with her children in the “harsh” sunlight when she would come to meet President Zardari.
He added: “If we are Benazir’s companions… then we should follow her mandate.”
Information Minister Firdous Ashiq Awan is also present at the rally.
4:35pm
President Zardari ends his address and PPP leader Aitzaz Ahsan takes the stage.
President claims that he tried to save the PIA twice and had asked Shaukat Tareen to buy new planes to revive the airlines.
“We are everyone’s friends and no one’s enemy. We will do trade with everyone and anyone we want to do it with,” he added.
4:20pm
President Asif Ali Zardari says: “I listen to our prime minister when he speaks, because when he talks, it is the voice of the parliament and this is democracy.”
He added said that he had brought the party’s manifesto to the rally and claimed that 80% of it had been implemented by the government.
“The world is facing recession but in Pakistan, we have food even after facing disasters including the floods.”
He criticised the media and said that he had asked his party leaders to not attend any media programs because the media anchors do nothing except making the politicians fight.
The president also lashed out against the judiciary saying that he wished that the courts were under him. “One of my ministers is lying in the jail since one and a half years and you cannot see that case, while you can see all other cases.”
4:07pm
President Zardari, addressing the rally, says that the government wants to make history and not headlines.
“Making a nation is the art of the impossible, and I am doing the impossible.”
3:57pm
Zardari arrives on stage in Garhi Khuda Bux to address the rally. PPP senior leader Makhdoom Amin Fahim is sitting right next to the president.
Twitter update:
ravezjunejo
#Pakistan President Asif #Zardari takes the stage at Benazir #Bhutto martyrdom anniversary function. Crowd goes wild with applause :D #PPP
PiruSaein
And yes! If I get the resurrection stone, I would definitely resurrect Benazir Bhutto. RIP. We miss you!!
WaqasSarwarr
R.I.P Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto!! Its been four years but the government is unable to arrest the assassins of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto! Shame..
pakistanpolicy
Four years ago today, former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto was murdered by terrorists in Rawalpindi. Pity the nation that kills its own.
3:06pm
President Asif Ali Zardari arrived in Garhi Khuda Bux from Naudero House to address the public rally.
This is the first time President Zardari is speaking in Garhi Khuda Bux, as earlier all the addresses were made at Naudero House.
Chairman Senate Farooq H Naek, Gilgit-Baltistan Governor Pir Karam Ali Shah and Chief Minister Gilgit-Baltistan Syed Mehdi Shah also arrived at the Bhutto mausoleum to offer prayers for Benazir Bhutto as well as other Bhutto family members including Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Nusrat Bhutto and Shahnawaz Bhutto, reported APP.
2:53pm
Defence Minister Ahmad Mukhtar spared a few moments to comment on Nato supplies to US forces in Afghanistan, while talking to the media today at Garhi Khuda Bux, said a report by PPI.
Mukhtar said that the supplies would not be restored free of charge as they tend to damage our roads and infrastructures and added that Pakistan would charge Nato for the repairs.
He added, “If the US is our ally, then it should keep our interests in mind.”
2:15pm
Shahadat Hussain of Express News reports that a large number of party workers have arrived at the mausoleum, with a rough estimate currently standing at 60,000-70,000.
Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, Interior Minister Rehman Malik and Chairman Senate Farooq H Naek have visited the mausoleum.
The rally is expected to begin at 3:00pm. Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah and other provincial ministers are expected to address the rally first.
President Asif Ali Zardari is expected to arrive around 4:00pm.
A two-minute silence will be observed at 5:20pm to mark Benazir's death.
1:53pm
According to an APP report, Sindh Home Minister Manzoor Wassan is being assisted by Deputy Inspector Generals (DIGs) Sukkur and Larkana at the main control room, which is also connected to four control rooms set up for the rally.
In order to monitor the situation, some 45 CCTV cameras have been installed, while some 150 women police personnel have also been deputed.
Security measures also include walk-through gates at the entrances of the mausoleum.
To deal with emergency situations around 122 traffic mobiles, 16 open trucks, 42 motorcycles and 12 tow-away vehicles have also been arranged.
1:15pm
Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani visited the Bhutto mausoleum where he offered prayers for Benazir Bhutto.
Speaking to the media, Gilani said that Benazir Bhutto’s death was not just a national dilemma but also an international setback.
He said that the investigations into her murder are almost complete and if need be, some portions of it will be made public by Interior Minister Rehman Malik.
Gilani added that the PPP is following Benazir Bhutto’s vision and has followed her mandate and the Charter of Democracy up to 80%.
The prime minister refused to comment on the Memogate issue and said that he is a prime minister and not a judge. “If I tell everything then what will the court do.”
Regarding the talks of ‘conspiracies’ being hatched against the government, the PM stated that the PPP is a strong party and it will face all the conspiracies. He added: “PPP is the name of an ideology and a philosophy, while other parties do not have any ideology or philosophy. They are all opportunists.”
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COMMENTS (49)
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Benazir Bhutto was no-doubt a great leader and had much the best vision for the nation especially poor/common man but unfortunately present PPP's leadership has buried Benazir Bhutto's vision and adopting self-made visions on the name of Benazir Bhutto and cashing Benazir Bhutto's name.
Watched Zardari after the speech. Eating and joking around with people. Didn't see any remorse on his face on BB death anniversary. How shameful!
Objectives achieved (80%): No Gas No Electricity No CNG No Sugar No Fertilizers Hyper inflation Railway on halt Steel mill next in line PIA Grounded and many many more
Well done PPP... and Well done Zardari sb. You deserve a bonus.
@Saad: People in Benazir Income Support Fund would certain remember her for life. They call them "Jiyalay". I agree with MM and Imran that there is nothing special about Benezir. She inherited politics and immigrated when going got tough. People who support PTI support them because of some incredible work which Zulfakar Ali Bhutto did who I admit was a genuine leader. It took the party 30 years of corruption to lose its vote bank and workers to PTI. I see no future of PTI and I am sure Zardardi and many others in the party know this as well. Thats why they are ripping the country from its resources in every possible manner irrespective of people's perception and media's cry.
zardari! at the moment your government is making neither headlines nor history. better start acting than just shouting rheotoric behind bullet proof glass!!!
@Imran:
Its a long list never mentioned in media but she did alot. People of Pakistan are not fools and remember its the name of Benazir that resonates with people along with Bhutto. She has many credits to her short stints as PM including arreas of education, energy sector, industry, IT, foreign relations and nuclear missle program but what we remember her for most is that she stood by us when all PPP stalwarts deserted Bhutto and the common jiyala was struggling to restore democracy, she suffered harsh jails to the point of death bed, she was with thousands of PPP activists murdered in cold blood by Zia and struggled with us when they were tortured.
Long Love Benazir!
The crowd is self evident of the fact that PPP lives on!
Yes I agree with AAZ. This country can only survive by making the parliament supreme.
@MM: Very Well Said :)
PPP died after BB,so IK rox,period!:P
Yes, Mr. Zardari, your government has made headlines as the most incompetent in Pakistan's sad and torturous history. This will be a record difficult to break.
yes ...govt will make history...by being the only banana republic which in spite of US aid...is on freefall and will disintegrate soon...
How many millions of dollars they wasted to built BB gravesite? They could have build 1000 schools and hospitals for that kind of money. Look at the crowd..uneducated, poor, clueless.
If the current situation is the result of achieving 80% objectives, I shudder to think what 100% looks like.
Why do the son of the soil have to address rallies in his hometown from behind a bullet-proof screen?
BB was just another politician nothing great about her..... don't try to make her bigger than what she was....why do people thinks she was brave.... she never fought for this country... she only fought for her political career...... pakistan wud have been the same or worse even if she lived for 100 years.....pakistan is of all pakistanies not of bhuttos or zardaris or shareefs or choudries...
Indeed govt will make history by making Pakistan bankrupt
What two military dictators and the death of Mohtarma could not achieve has been effortlessly achieved by the "dynamic" duo (Zardari/ Gilani) and their cohorts. They thought that the hollow slogans of sacrifises from leaders past could salvage the name/ reputation of the party and give cover for their own failings and poor performance, but they were mistaken. PPP will never be the same again and it will sadly never inspire the people agian. PPP is dead.
Yes Zardari, you've made history. Heartfelt congratulations from 180 million people on achieving the honor of being the most incompetent and corrupt government in the existence of this country.
Three words to describe this government.....corrupt, incompetent,clueless.
It's obvious to me that despite so much bashing from all quarters including, media, opposition, you know who, and you know who, and ironically from AZ himself, PPP is alive and well. Resilience!
My question to all the PPP and BB fans is to tell me one solid benefit any PPP government or leader made to Pakistan and its masses. The only thing they ever did was talk big.
Yes THIS GOVT will make into history books. New world records !!!
Aren't you doing both? i.e. History as worst Democratic disaster and headlines with stupidity?
What does this mean, Mr. President? We are not familiar with this aspect of ' democracy is the best revenge' !!!
Zardari Sb you have already made history and do not have to work for it, by getting the reputation of being the most corrupt and inefficient government in the history of Pakistan.
I respect BB and her sacrifice but I am fed up with these rallies, processions, dharnas and protests. These things are destroying our economy which is already at the bottom end. If there is no economy and wealth creation, there is no future.
The headlines says "Government to make history not headlines"... What a nonsense.. Off course they will make history in corruption, poverty, inflation, terrorism and destruction of country sovereignty.. What they have achieved in the last four years is visible to everyone.
PPP will never die,only PML will die ,already dead with so many branches and people like sana ullah and shebaz will destroy it Bhutto name can attract millions always
80% objectives achieved? I would seriously like to know what are those And wish overruled.. Judiciary has to be independent and not under president's control
@Malik: NO but look zardari is more brave, he live undergeound and go to his own people behind bullet proof box...
hahaha no one there?
Bilawal is a Zardari, not a Bhutto. Strictly speaking neither was Benazir once she married Zardari. Why they carry on using the Bhutto name beats me.
I miss BB.
Bhutto didn't compromise, and was hanged ! BB compromised, even then she was killed ! What do you expect from Zardari ? I think what he has been doing for the last four years is the best strategy ie..................playing with the "Establishment" ! He neither completely bows down nor gets straight with them. We should accept this "new" PPP; survival of the (politically) fittest !
May the soul of BB rest in peace. However how miserably has her legacy been destroyed ! Is that the burial site of Bhutto in background !!! Looks like a burial site for leader of Rome or some other superpower leaders mouslim. Definitely not befitting for someone fighting for basic rights of people and the basic rights like Roti , Kapra aur Makaan and majority population is still deprived of these basic rights !
Bilawal Zardari to speak in English.
@Malik:
Have to agree with you on this. However i suppose what was destined to happen happenned.
May God protect Pakistan from dynasties.
A sad day when a visionary political leader and a two-time elected Prime Minister was killed in broad day light.
Four years on, the hunt is still going on as who planed to kill her and who were the people who executed the plan?
The mystery is not as complicated as the murder of former US President John F. Kennedy.
When PPP has its own President and the Prime Minister cannot make to arrest Benazir’s killers, who else will bring BB’s killers to justice?
The murder of BB seems to be a open and shut case. The murder of BB will remain a mystery and with the passage of time people will forget as who killed Benazir Bhutto.
she was brave as her father !! and no one can be placed next to these two legends in pakistani politicians . Thats why her opponents who have been opposing benazir and her father throughout their political career (i-e Muslim leaguies ) can now be seen praising Bhuttos efforts and their Vision in their interviews.
I Oppose PPP openly but one has to accept that BB was a brave lady. braver than any of the present PPP members. Had she been alive Pakistan would have been altogether different.