Today marks the 17th death anniversary of Pakistan’s first female Prime Minister, Benazir Bhutto, observed with great devotion and respect. The main congregation is being held in Garhi Khuda Bakhsh, the ancestral town and final resting place of the Bhutto family. PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, President Asif Ali Zardari, and other central and provincial leaders are addressing the gathering.
Benazir’s youngest child, Aseefa Bhutto Zardari, who serves as Pakistan’s First Lady and the central president of the Ladies Wing, is present at the event. Faryal Talpur, a member of the Sindh Assembly, and Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah have also arrived in Naudero. Additionally, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi and other leaders are in attendance.
The venue is adorned with a 60-foot-wide stage decorated with party flags and portraits of Benazir and other leaders. Renowned poets from across the country are set to pay tribute to the late leader through poetry.
Strict security measures have been implemented, with 8,500 police officers deployed and CCTV cameras installed in the surrounding areas.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also paid tribute to Benazir, calling her a champion of democracy. In his message, he lauded her advocacy for dialogue and reconciliation in politics and highlighted the Charter of Democracy as a testament to her enduring legacy.
Born on June 21, 1953, into the prominent Bhutto family, Benazir Bhutto served as Pakistan’s Prime Minister twice, from 1988 to 1990 and from 1993 to 1996. She was the first woman to lead a Muslim-majority nation as Prime Minister and the first to head a democratically elected government.
Her tenure focused on democracy, women’s rights, and economic reforms, despite facing significant political challenges. Tragically, her life was cut short in 2007 during her campaign for a historic third term, leaving behind a legacy of resilience and vision in Pakistan’s political history.
