LAHORE : Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Lahore on Saturday passed a resolution calling for erection of statues of former Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto at Minar-e-Pakistan.
The resolution was presented in the seminar titled ‘From the Atom Bomb to Missile Technology: Shaheed Bhutto and Shaheed Bibi’s Indomitable Pakistan” organised by PPP Lahore in connection with the death anniversary of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.
The resolution was put forward in recognition of their historic contributions to strengthening the country’s national defence, particularly their pivotal roles in developing Pakistan’s nuclear programme and introducing missile technology to the nation.
The party announced that the resolution would be presented before the National Assembly, the Senate, and all provincial assemblies across the country, reflecting the party’s intention to seek broader institutional support for the initiative.
PPP Faisal Mir announced that all leaders and workers of the party will be welcomed to join the organising committee of Lahore.
Mir emphasised that the expansion of the committee was being undertaken with the upcoming local government elections in mind, as the party requires candidates to contest in those polls.
Addressing those who have so far chosen to remain outside the committee’s fold, Mir expressed confidence that they would eventually seek membership on their own once they witness the party growing stronger and consolidating its position on the ground.PPP Lahore General Secretary Dr Ayesha Shaukat paid a heartfelt tribute to the late Zulfikar Ali Bhutto on the anniversary of his death, remembering him as a towering figure whose legacy continues to shape Pakistan and the broader Muslim world.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Ayesha Shaukat recalled that April 4, 1979, marked the day of what she described as the judicial murder of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, stressing that it took years for this grave injustice to be formally acknowledged and proven.
She emphasised that Bhutto was not merely a leader of Pakistan but a defining voice for the entire Muslim world, whose vision and statesmanship transcended national boundaries.
PPP leader Majeed Ghori has on the party leadership to distance itself from its alliance with the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), asserting that the time has come for the PPP to chart its own independent political course.
Addressing party members, reaffirmed that Zulfikar Ali Bhutto remains the true leader of farmers and labourers, underscoring the party’s foundational commitment to the working class and rural communities.
However, Ghori noted with concern that despite Bhutto’s enduring popularity among the masses, his ideology and legacy have not been given the acceptance and recognition they deserve in the current political arrangement.
Senior PPP leader Shahida Jabeen stated that the party maintains its own office in Lahore, where workers can gather, coordinate, and organize events. Speaking on various matters, she reflected on the difficult period her party endured during the era of General Zia-ul-Haq, recalling the immense sacrifices made by its members during that turbulent chapter of Pakistan’s history.
Jabeen further paid tribute to the unwavering dedication of PPP’s workers and leaders, asserting that the current government stands as a direct result of the blood, sweat, and sacrifices rendered by PPP workers and leaders over decades of struggle.
Addressing the audience, Arif Khan recalled that on May 18, 1974, India conducted its first nuclear test, which sent shockwaves across the region. In response to this alarming development, former Pakistani Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto made his now-famous declaration that Pakistan would pursue its own nuclear program even if its people had to eat grass to achieve that goal.
Arif Khan described Bhutto as the true founder of Pakistan’s atomic bomb, crediting him with the vision and political will that made the program possible.
He hailed Bhutto as an exceptional leader not only for Pakistan but for the entire Asian continent and the broader world, emphasising his towering stature on the global political stage.
PPP Nasira Shaukat Mahmood has recalled her long-standing association with the party’s founding leader Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, sharing memories that date back to her student days.
