PESHAWAR: Events and functions were held in the provincial capital and elsewhere in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Saturday to mark the 47th death anniversary of former prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.
In the provincial capital, the Women Wing of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa organized a well-attended ceremony to mark the death anniversary of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto at the Peshawar Press Club, where participants paid rich tribute to him.
A number of women attended the event, reflecting strong emotional and ideological attachment to Bhutto’s legacy. The ceremony featured speeches highlighting his contributions to democracy, public empowerment, and national sovereignty.
Benazir Income Support Programme Chairperson Rubina Khalid attended the ceremony as chief guest.
In her address, she termed April 4 as the darkest day in Pakistan’s history, stating that the nation lost a visionary and courageous leader whose absence was still deeply felt.
She emphasized that leaders like Zulfikar Ali Bhutto were born once in centuries, and his political philosophy continued to inspire generations. She credited him for laying the foundation of Pakistan’s nuclear programme, making the country’s defense strong, while also acknowledging Benazir Bhutto for advancing missile technology.
Rubina Khalid said the PPP governments executed record development projects and empowered citizens.
She said that Pakistan’s future was linked to the ideology of Bhuttos, centered on democracy, equality, and public welfare. Criticizing the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government, she said that an imposed administration had caused setbacks for the province.
She said the people of KP had always stood by the PPP.
She warned that certain elements were attempting to instill anti-state narratives among the youth, but she made it clear that PPP would never support the elements working against Pakistan.
“We are Pakistanis first, before any ethnic identity,” she stressed.
Rubina Khalid said that ZA Bhutto sacrificed his life for the country but never compromised on principles, urging the young generation to follow his courage, resilience, and commitment.
The ceremony reaffirmed their commitment to carry forward Bhutto’s mission and ideology.
In Chitral, a ceremony was organised by the Pakistan People’s Party Lower Chitral chapter.
The event was attended by party leaders, workers, and people from different walks of life.
Addressing the gathering, party leaders, including PPP general secretary Qazi Muhammad Faisal, information secretary Nazar Wali Shah, Shehzada Khalid Pervez, Alamzeb, Muhammad Afzal, Fakhar Alam, Aneesuddin Shah, and others highlighted the national, political and democratic services of Bhutto.
The speakers said that Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was a great national leader who gave the country a consensus constitution, laid the foundation of the nuclear program, and raised political awareness among the masses. They added that he always struggled for democracy, public rights, and the uplift of the underprivileged, ultimately sacrificing his life for these causes.
The leaders reiterated that the PPP continued to follow Bhutto’s ideology and remained committed to safeguarding democracy, justice, and the rights of the people.
They vowed to carry forward his mission and ensure that his sacrifices would not go in vain.
The ceremony concluded with special prayers for the departed soul, as well as for the country’s peace, stability, and prosperity. Party workers also reaffirmed their commitment to continuing Bhutto’s mission.
In Bara, the PPP Khyber chapter office-bearers, including Dr Sher Shah Afridi, Siraj Khan Afridi, Shams Afridi, Abbas Khan, Javed Shah, Abid Khan Afridi and other party workers, organized an event in connection with the day.
They paid rich tribute to Bhutto’s political struggle, public service and sacrifices for democracy particularly in Pakistan.
Speaking at the gathering, the speakers said that Bhutto awakened political consciousness among the masses and strived to empower the common man.
They pointed out that Zulfikar Ali Bhutto rendered historic services for democratic values, protection of civilian rights and strengthening of Pakistan as a state.
The speakers described Bhutto’s sacrifice as a defining chapter in Pakistan’s political history, adding that it would never be forgotten.
“Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto sacrificed his life for the poor people but did not compromise on his principles,” they said.
They reaffirmed that the PPP remained committed to carrying forward Bhutto’s ideology and mission of public service.
The participants also pledged to continue their struggle for democracy, public rights and the supremacy of the Constitution in line with Bhutto’s philosophy.
The ceremony concluded with a special prayer for the departed soul of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and renewed appreciation of his political legacy.
Workers belonging to other political parties joined PPP.
In Nowshera, the PPP Nowshera chapter held a function at the residence of former provincial president of Peoples Doctors Forum and candidate for PK-85 Nowshera Prof Dr Nisar in Kheshgi Payan Nowshera where party workers and local leaders participated.
Prof Dr Nisar said that Zulfikar Ali Bhutto made Pakistan a nuclear power while his daughter Benazir Bhutto developed and improved missile technology in her tenure.
“PPP and Bhutto family made Pakistan the lone nuclear power in the Islamic world and wanted to unite the Muslim countries under a single platform to defend their ideology and protect their resources,”Dr Nisar said and added the conflict in the Middle East was directed at controlling oil and other resources in the region.
He said that April 4 was the blackest day in the history of Pakistan when a military dictator hanged to death a popular leader of the Muslim world.
PPP provincial leader and former candidate for NA-34 Nowshera Idrees Khattak, Falak Niaz Khan, Shaukat Jamal and others spoke on the occasion. They lauded the political, democratic and developmental steps of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto for the people of Pakistan and Muslim world.
