PPP Greater London observes Benazir’s birthday
LONDON, June 22, (APP)- Activists and workers of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) United Kingdom (UK) observed the 57th birthday of former prime minister Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Sha
heed and pledged to consolidate and strengthen democracy in the light of her mission to make Pakistan a modern and progressive country.The PPP Greater London chapter organized an event here on Monday evening in which scores of party workers extolled the virtues and the democratic credentials of their slain leader.
Speaking as the chief guest Salis Kiyani, Minister, Community Welfare, Pakistan High Commission paid tribute to the sagacity and wisdom of Shaheed Mohtarma and said she was an outstanding woman leader in the Muslim world.
Kiyani recalled the visit of Mohtarma to Blackburn in 1999 when he was mayor of the north west English town and the full protocol given to her and how he over rode objections by the police in this regard.
“I told the police officials that Benazir Bhutto deserved full protocol because she was a great leader who had been twice prime minister of Pakistan. And during her entire seven hours stay in the town, she got the protocol,” Kiyani said.
He said as Mohtarma spent greater part of exiled life in the UK, she held the Pakistani and Kashmir Diaspora in the highest esteem and felt indebted to the community for the support given to her.
The Community Welfare Minister said the Bhutto family had rendered greater sacrifices for the cause of democracy, oppressed classes and its efforts to modernise the country and alleviate poverty.
He spoke about the present difficulties and challenges faced by Pakistan and called for strengthening the hands of President Asif Zardari and Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani to overcome the various barriers.
He said she firmly believed that the real choice that Pakistan faced today was between dictatorship and democracy.
Others party activists who spoke on the occasion included Agha Tanvir Iqbal, Habib Jan, Councillor Abdul Aziz, Mohsin Bari, Zahid Hassan Dar, Mirza Aftab Ahmed Baghi, Amanullah Khan, Altaf Khan, Mian Shahid, and Riaz Khan.
The speakers appealed for bringing those responsible for the assassination of Mohtarma to justice and for taking her mission forward of making Pakistan a truly democratic country.
They also pointed out that the policy of reconciliation being pursued by the present government reflected the wishes of Shaheed Mohtarma and the existence of coalition governments at the Federal and Provincial level illustrates her desire.
Later, the participants cut a cake to mark the occasion.
Kiyani recalled the visit of Mohtarma to Blackburn in 1999 when he was mayor of the north west English town and the full protocol given to her and how he over rode objections by the police in this regard.
“I told the police officials that Benazir Bhutto deserved full protocol because she was a great leader who had been twice prime minister of Pakistan. And during her entire seven hours stay in the town, she got the protocol,” Kiyani said.
He said as Mohtarma spent greater part of exiled life in the UK, she held the Pakistani and Kashmir Diaspora in the highest esteem and felt indebted to the community for the support given to her.
The Community Welfare Minister said the Bhutto family had rendered greater sacrifices for the cause of democracy, oppressed classes and its efforts to modernise the country and alleviate poverty.
He spoke about the present difficulties and challenges faced by Pakistan and called for strengthening the hands of President Asif Zardari and Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani to overcome the various barriers.
He said she firmly believed that the real choice that Pakistan faced today was between dictatorship and democracy.
Others party activists who spoke on the occasion included Agha Tanvir Iqbal, Habib Jan, Councillor Abdul Aziz, Mohsin Bari, Zahid Hassan Dar, Mirza Aftab Ahmed Baghi, Amanullah Khan, Altaf Khan, Mian Shahid, and Riaz Khan.
The speakers appealed for bringing those responsible for the assassination of Mohtarma to justice and for taking her mission forward of making Pakistan a truly democratic country.
They also pointed out that the policy of reconciliation being pursued by the present government reflected the wishes of Shaheed Mohtarma and the existence of coalition governments at the Federal and Provincial level illustrates her desire.
Later, the participants cut a cake to mark the occasion.
MBB Shaheed with Mr. Wajid Shamsul Hasan
