RAWALPINDI, April 4: Leaders and supporters of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) on Friday converged on the Jinnah Park grounds, which used to be the site of the old central jail, to observe the 29th death anniversary of the party’s founding chairman Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.

The ceremony turned into a mammoth gathering as people from all walks of life marched to the spot to offer Fateha for the soul of Mr Bhutto, besides reciting the Holy Quran.

The PPP office-bearers, its students wing, traders, women wing and members of the People’s Youth Organisation (PYO) participated in the event.

Full throat slogans like “Zinda hey Bhutto zinda hey” and “Jeye Benazir, Jeye Bhutto” echoed in the sprawling Jinnah Park, formerly known as Bhutto Park.

The people, who gathered at the site, vowed to uphold the dignity and sacrifices of the Bhutto family for the cause of democracy, and determined to take forward the mission of Benazir Bhutto.

The councillors associated with PPP, including Nazim Mian Imran Hayat, Sohail Pasha, Nasir Mir and Tahir Gondal, on the occasion demanded that the park should be given its old name — Bhutto Park — besides fencing the area where Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was hanged.

Majority of the people present on the occasion could not hold back tears after listening to the heart-breaking speeches by some party leaders.

The death anniversary was observed with solemnity and afterwards the supporters also visited Liaquat Bagh where former prime minister Benazir Bhutto was assassinated on December 27 and offered Fateha.

Our Correspondent from Attock adds: “Political leaders like Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto are born in centuries, and both these personalities sacrificed their lives for the country’s sovereignty and for empowering the poor people,” Muttahida Mehnutkash Mahaz president Rana Liaquat Ali Khan said while addressing a gathering here on Friday.

Besides labour leaders and social activists, councillors Haji Ghulam Sarwar and Abid Hanif also attended the event.

Paying rich tribute to the PPP founding chairman, he said Mr Bhutto was a revolutionary political figure, who sacrificed his life for the cause of democracy and the rights of the poor class.

Mr Bhutto had refused to accept any pressure or compromise over the national interests, he added.

The adoption of 1973 constitution, rallying the Muslim world on one platform and laying the basis for the nuclear programme were some of Mr Bhutto’s accomplishments, Mr Khan said.

Benazir Bhutto, following in her father’s footsteps, continued with the struggle for democracy despite internal and external conspiracies, violence and betrayals, and sacrificed her life for the cause of real democracy, he said.

Earlier, Fateha Khawani was held for Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Bhutto during which the participants prayed Allah Almighty to shower his blessing over the departed souls.

However, no function was organised by the PPP Attock chapter here to mark Mr Bhutto’s 29th death anniversary, as the local PPP leader Malik Hakmeen Khan and MPA Shahan Malik were attending the ceremonies at Garhi Khuda Bakhsh.

CHAKWAL: The 29th death anniversary of PPP’s founding chairman Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was observed at the district office of the Pakistan People’s Party on Friday, PPI reported.

A large number of PPP supporters attended the gathering that was also attended by former MPA Maha Tareen Raja. Quran Khawani was also held for Mr Bhutto.

Shah Jehan Sarfraz Raja had arranged the meeting, but he was represented by his brother. Mr Raja is currently in Garhi Khuda Bukhsh, the burial place of the PPP leader.

  Speaking on the occasion, Maha Tareen Raja said Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and his daughter Benazir Bhutto were the symbol of federation, adding that the PPP was an ideological party representing the downtrodden people of the country.   She was confident that under the leadership of Asif Ali Zardari and Bilawal Bhutto, the party would come up to the expectation of the masses.

APP adds: Islamabad based intellectuals and writers paid tributes to Zulfikar Ali Bhutto during a meeting organised by the Pakistan Intellectual Forum (PIF) here on Friday.

Prof (Dr) Qasim Rind said Mr Bhutto knew the art of communicating with the people of all ages and all strata of society, and convinced the masses that people themselves were the true architects and guardians of their destiny.

Asadullah Mungrani said the qualitative difference between Bhutto’s approach and that of other politicians was his humility and modesty.

Hashim Abro of PIF said it was the time when the people of Pakistan were in need of inspiration and guidance from his (Mr Bhutto’s) thoughts.

Others who paid tribute to the great politician included Tasleem Naz, Prof Asmatullah and Prof Manzar Kazmi.

Meanwhile, the Federal Government Services Hospital Welfare Committee organised a separate function in connection with the death anniversary of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.