HYDERABAD: The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) will observe the 18th death anniversary of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto this year, for which preparations and consultations are under way.
Sindh PPP President Nisar Ahmed Khuhro said this while addressing a press conference on Sunday. He said the anniversary gathering would be held at 2pm in Garhi Khuda Bux, Larkana, where party leadership would address the workers and outline party policies.
He added that the President of Pakistan, Asif Ali Zardari, may also attend the public meeting on the occasion. Khuhro said the PPP Central Executive Committee (CEC) meeting was usually convened on a one-point agenda to pay tribute to Benazir, and a similar meeting may be held this year as well.
Paying homage to the late Benazir, Khuhro said she put Pakistan on the path of democracy. The PPP had made immense sacrifices for democratic struggle, he added. He said the PPP had to carry bodies in its fight for democracy. Pakistan was created by its people and not conquered by anyone, he added.
He maintained that even while not being part of the federal government, the PPP continued to play its role and had the strength to get its demands accepted. He stressed that the country’s real need was to reform the Election Commission, adding that when the right to vote rested with the people, it could not be termed a ‘controlled democracy’.
Commenting on constitutional matters, Khuhro said the 26th and 27th constitutional amendments were passed unanimously. Defending the 27th amendment, he said it only provided for the establishment of a constitutional court, which was necessary due to the huge backlog of cases in the Supreme Court.
He criticised former chief justice Saqib Nisar, alleging that despite millions of pending cases, he spent time visiting jails. Khuhro said PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari had strengthened his political stature.
On law and order, the Sindh PPP president said that neither Khyber Pakhtunkhwa nor Balochistan were having peaceful conditions, and if the situation was bad enough, the government should act without seeking permission.
He recalled that the National Action Plan was launched with the parliamentary approval and asked the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government to present evidence of its actions against terrorism.
He said the PPP was not responsible for inviting the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) for talks, and added that a political party that had been in power at that time was responsible for it. He added that recent convictions had occurred after the military openly declared it would remain neutral, and details were now emerging about the involvement of those punished recently.
After the press conference, Khuhro presided over divisional meetings of Mirpurkhas and Shaheed Benazirabad at the residence of Hyderabad District PPP General Secretary Wasim Rajput.
Later, he visited the residence of former Muttahida Qaumi Movement-London leader Zafar Rajput, who recently parted ways with the party, to offer condolences on the demise of his wife.
Speaking on the occasion, Khuhro said Rajput was a well-known political figure who had served twice as an MPA, adding that the PPP would be pleased if he joined the party. We have come to offer condolences and also extend an invitation, he said.
In response, Rajput said Khuhro’s name and role were well known to the people of Sindh and described him as a sincere leader. He said if he formally received an invitation to join the PPP, he would certainly consider it after due deliberation.
