MUZAFFARGARH, Dec 30: Women’s right activist Mukhtaran Mai has said that the assassination of Benazir Bhutto is the murder of women in Pakistan.

Talking to this correspondent here on Sunday, she said Ms Bhutto was a great leader and her murder was a national tragedy.

Mai said the murder of Benazir was a murder of democracy in Pakistan and now the country had no one who could represent it at the world level.

She demanded a probe into the Liaquat Bagh incident by foreign investigators.

Mai said her organisation would hold Quran Khwani on Tuesday (tomorrow) and she would go to Larkana for condolence as well.

She said: “I am feeling lonely at this time because Ms Bhutto was the last hope of women activists. I am proud of being a woman because of her (courage).”

Umme Kalsoom Sial, chairwoman of Sycope (NGO), condemned the Rawalpindi incident and said the assassination of Benazir was the murder of all women in Pakistan.

Meanwhile, Acid Survive Foundation (ASF), ASR Resource Centre and other NGOs held Quran Khwani in Muzaffargarh district on Sunday.

GUJRANWALA: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and civil society activists continued their protest on Sunday against the assassination of Benazir Bhutto. Traders and transporters observed a complete shutdown and wheel jam.

PPP and civil society officials demonstrated in different parts of the city and chanted slogans against the Pakistan Muslim League-Q and government.

They alleged the government and agencies were involved in Bhutto’s murder but the government changed its stance again and again to cover up the conspiracy.

But people rejected the government’s claim. They demanded that President Pervez Musharraf step down and an independent caretaker government conduct the general elections.

Also police continued cracking down on PPP workers and others booked for ransacking and burning a telephone exchange, the general post office and banks during their protest on GT Road and arrested about two dozen people.

Police have registered a case against 2,700 people, including PPP leaders and its candidates for the general elections.