The Pakistan People’s Party activists observed the 35th death anniversary of former prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto here on Friday.
A large number of PPP activists and local leaders turned up at the Jinnah Park (old jail) Rawalpindi, where Bhutto was hanged in 1979, to pay tribute to the sacrifices of their leader and showered flowers on the place where he was hanged.
Workers and local leaders of PPP city gathered Similarly, workers and leaders of Bhutto-Shaheed Benazir Workers’ Movement, led by Nahid Khan, also held a separate rally at the same location to mark the day.
PPP local leaders including Malik Aamer, Fida Paracha, Farooq Paracha, Raja Imran Ashraf and women wing leader Sumera Gul were among the participants.
Quran Khawani was also held and activists offered fateh for their leader.
They laid floral wreaths on the site where Bhutto was hanged.
PPP activists, while holding placards of Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto and party flags chanted slogans eulogising sacrifices of their leaders.
They said leaders like Bhutto were born in centuries. Tight security arrangements had been made on the occasion.
The PPP leaders held banned outfits and agencies responsible for the party’s defeat in 2013 elections.
“They played a pivotal role in defeating the party,” said PPP Central Executive Committee member Sultan Mehmood Qazi while talking to media.
He said fabricated warnings of attacks were spread to bar party from election campaign under a well-planned conspiracy.
“On the other hand, they even supported the electioneering of the current ruling party,” he claimed.
Like other parts of the country, Bhutto’s death anniversary was also observed in different parts of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK).
Meanwhile, PPP workers and leaders held a candle vigil outside the National Press Club in Islamabad to remember their slain leader. A large number of party activists including women and children were present
Different functions and programmes were held in small and major cities across the region. An official holiday had been announced by the AJK government to mark the day.
A special ceremony was held at the People’s Secretaries in Mirpur to mark the day.
A large number of PPP office-bearers and workers were present.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 5th, 2014.