Tributes paid to Benazir Bhutto on her 10th death anniversary

PESHAWAR: The provincial leadership of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) and People's Doctors Forum (PDF) on Wednesday accused former military dictator General (R) Pervez Musharraf of having a hand in the killing of their leader Benazir Bhutto and demanded his arrest and that of other co-accused in the case.

The PDF had organized the day-long seminar at the Peshawar Press Club on Wednesday to observe the 10th death anniversary of Benazir Bhutto. Besides PPP workers, doctors associated with the PDF attended the seminar.

PDF provincial president Prof Dr Nisar Khan, former federal minister Mian Muzaffar Shah, PPP Senator Robina Khalid, PPP women wing provincial president Nighat Yasmin Orakzai, Syed Ayub Shah, Bahramand Tangi and others paid glowing tributes to their slain leader. They vowed to accomplish her mission of establishing peace and democracy in the country.

Dr Nisar Khan said Benazir Bhutto had sacrificed her life for peace, democracy, social justice and rule of law in the country.

"Despite open threats from terrorists, Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto came to Pakistan and held public meetings to mobilize the general masses against military rule and militancy in the country," he recalled.

The PDF chief added that like her father, she laid down her life for a sacred cause.

Dr Nisar Khan said the PPP was still a popular party of the country and those who were hatching conspiracy against it would face humiliation in the next general election.

Former federal minister Mian Muzaffar Shah said the then military dictator Pervez Musharraf was responsible for the assassination of Benazir Bhutto as the terrorists had been given a free hand to continue their activities in the country. He claimed the PPP was the only political party which had struggled for supremacy of the Parliament and civilians and also the rule of law in the country. The PPP leader said all the state institutions should honour their constitutional obligations and shoulder responsibilities.

He accused the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa of not fulfilling the promise of eliminating corruption from the government departments.

"Chief Minister Pervez Khattak could not even bring a change in his native Nowshera district. How one can one believe that a positive change had been made in the entire province?" he asked.

The provincial president of PDF Dr Nisar Khan also announced to establish Benazir Blood Transfusion units in all districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Fateha was offered for the departed soul of Benazir Bhutto and the participants renewed the commitment to uphold the struggle of their leader for peace, democracy and welfare of the masses.

Meanwhile, several functions were arranged in other parts of the province and Federally Administered Tribal Areas to pay tributes to Benazir Bhutto.

NOWSHERA: A former KP minister, Liaqat Shabab, and other party leaders attended a function which was arranged in Nowshera to remember Benazir Bhutto. The speakers said the Bhutto family had rendered unmatched sacrifices for the development and prosperity of Pakistan. They showered praises on Benazir Bhutto for her struggle for democracy and the supreme sacrifice.

GHALLANAI: The PPP Mohmand Agency chapter organized a function for the slain party leader who was martyred after addressing public rally in Rawalpindi. They said that it was the efforts of PPP that made Pakistan a strong and independent country. KHAR: The activists of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) observed the 10th death anniversary of Benazir Bhutto here on Wednesday.