President Asif Zardari left his son Bilawal on Tuesday to handle the scores of people offering condolences for Begum Nusrat Bhutto, who was buried the day before in Garhi Khuda Baksh, home of the Bhutto family mausoleum, near Larkana.
Zardari flew to Saudi Arabia, along with Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, the president of the Pakistan Muslim League (Quaid), to attend the funeral of crown prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz. The funeral took place at the Imam Turki bin Abdullah Mosque in Riyadh.
Earlier, Zardari met a six-member delegation from the PML-Q, who offered their condolences over the loss of his mother-in-law. Five members of the PML-Q went to Garhi Khuda Baksh and offered prayers for Nusrat Bhutto.
The delegation, which comprised Mushahid Hussain Syed, Ghous Bux Mahar, Mohammad Ali Malgani, Naseer Mengal and Haleem Adil Shaikh, later visited Naudero House to offer condolences to Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and other family members. The delegation also visited Al-Murtaza House in Larkana to condole with Ghinwa Bhutto, Zulfikar Bhutto Jr and Fatima Bhutto.
Dr Zulfiqar Mirza, the former Sindh home minister, reached Garhi Khuda Baksh on Monday night. Later, he went to Naudero House and condoled with Zardari and other family members. According to sources, Mirza stayed the night in Naudero, but not at Naudero House.
A large number of PPP workers visited Garhi Khuda Baksh on Monday and offered prayers for Nusrat Bhutto. According to reports, party workers were not allowed to enter Naudero House, though thousands gathered at Al-Murtaza House.
Zulfiqar Jr and Fatima Bhutto, the son and daughter of Murtaza Bhutto, were tight-lipped in front of the media. Sources claimed that the ‘chief’ of the Bhutto clan, Sardar Aamir Bhutto, had tried to persuade Zardari to hand the body of Nusrat Bhutto over so that the funeral could take place at Al-Murtaza House.
Ghinwa Bhutto spoke of her family’s grief, adding that Zulfikar Jr and Fatima would make a decision whether to enter politics or not after completing their studies.
Shujaat belittles PML-N’s tactics
Meanwhile, the head of the ruling PPP’s biggest coalition ally - Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain of the PML-Q - used the funeral of Begum Bhutto as an excuse to portray the opposition, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), as callous for continuing their efforts to dislodge the government at a time of national mourning.
In his comments to the media at Sukkur airport on Tuesday, Shujaat appealed to the PML-N to postpone its protests in the wake of the death of Nusrat Bhutto.
Shujaat also stated that his party would contest the general elections under its own banner, rather than as part of the Pakistan People Party. He did not rule out seat adjustments, however.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 26th, 2011.
COMMENTS (6)
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@jayNY, u r the only dignified person here. RIP, BEGUM BHUTTO.@ MURTAZA ,shame on u. tasbih z a matter b/w bilawal and his Allah. no need 2 comment on it.
inna lilla-he-wainna ellaehe raajioon.
Noticed the Tasbih in his hand...Glad to see the younger Zardari has his drama props figured out. @Bunny, for successful theatre you need supporting actors.
I would like the commend President Zardari for putting responsiblitest as president above family obligations. In the interest of Pak foreign policy it was important he attend this funeral.
Ummm... That is sadar aamir Bhutto ,head of the Bhutto clan,, siting next to bilawal in ur picture. Surely if he had tried to convince Zardari to take the body to al Murtaza he would be sitting in al Murtaza the next day receiving condolences w/ Zulfikar jr. n not BILAWAL?