ISLAMABAD: The 37th death anniversary of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) founder Zulfikar Ali Bhutto is being observed today (Monday).
The PPP will hold public rally in Garhi Khuda Bux on the occasion, while Quran Khawani and prayers will be offered at all divisional, district, tehsil and city offices of the party.
All preparations to mark the event have been finalised by the committee formed by PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto in this regard.
Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah said Bilawal Bhutto would attend the death anniversary of his grandfather, which, according to him, would be attended by thousands of party supporters.
Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was hanged on April 4, 1979 during the military dictator General Ziaul Haq regime.
The Sindh government has announced public holiday in the province today. According to a notification issued by the provincial government, all Sindh government and semi-government offices, autonomous bodies, corporations and local councils under the administrative control of Sindh government will remain closed today.
Activists of the Pakistan People’s Party have started arriving in Garhi Khuda Bux from all over the country to participate in the event. Groups of PPP activists from Lahore and other areas of Punjab have also started their journey towards Larkana to take part in the events marking Bhutto’s death anniversary.
Officials said foolproof security arrangements had been made to avoid any untoward incident and observe the anniversary in a befitting manner. The security arrangements include installment of CCTV cameras at the venue of the rally besides deployment of 7,000 police personnel and 300 Rangers personnel to keep watch on the premises of the rally. Traffic police officials and female police officials will also discharge their duties to ensure maximum security for the participants of the rally.
Camps have been set up and areas have been decorated with PPP flags throughout all districts of Sindh.
Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was the founder and chairman of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP). After serving in military dictator Ayub Khan’s cabinet, Bhutto formed the PPP and swept the 1970 elections in then-West Pakistan. After the 1971 war, Bhutto was sworn in as Pakistan’s first elected prime minister. He was deposed by army general Ziaul Haq, under whose regime he was later found guilty of murder and hanged. Bhutto garnered immense fame for his mercurial politics and charismatic speeches. Considered as one of Pakistan’s best orators, Bhutto’s fiery speeches as foreign minister and prime minister are still popular with masses. His daughter Benazir Bhutto was assassinated in a ghastly gun and bomb attack on December 16, 2007 in Rawalpindi.
