At Liaquat Bagh in Rawalpindi, party workers gathered to mark the 18th anniversary of the death of Benazir Bhutto, paying tribute to her role in strengthening democracy, protecting popular sovereignty and championing the rights of women and marginalized communities. Speakers emphasized the need for the party to recognise and respect those workers who remain ideologically loyal and committed to Benazir Bhutto’s principles.
The event was addressed by Banaras Chaudhry, head of the PPP Workers Alliance, Syed Masood Shah Advocate, divisional president of the Peoples Lawyers Forum, and spokespersons including Amjad Butt of Peoples Party Germany and Raja Zaheer Iqbal. Other prominent speakers included Nasser Mir and Chaudhry Nasser Qayyum, who reiterated the party’s pledge to continue Benazir Bhutto’s mission for democracy and human rights.
Leaders and activists present included Raja Faiz Akbar, motor dealers’ chairman Azhar Khan, former councillor Munirullah Butt, former nazim Jahangir Butt, Saeed Akhtar Pappa, Falak Sher Lodhi, labour union representative Raja Abdul Majeed Javed Khan, Malik Saleem Awan, Sher Afghan, Hanif Awan, Syed Mohsin Raza, Malik Mazhar Hussain, Rana Shaukat, Yadmir Khan, Malik Nadeem Awan, Sheikh Liaquat, Raja Sadiq, Azhar Shah, Kamran Karim, Mian Altaf Butt and Rafiqat Ali Qadri. Women leaders including former MLA Shehzadi Kausar Gilani, Gulnaz Badshah, Kausar Altaf, Shabana Ilyas and Insa Saleem attended alongside party workers.
Participants lit candles and showered flower petals at the martyrdom site as a mark of respect. The party workers held a collective fatiha for the leaders and ward committee members of Rawalpindi who lost their lives in the Liaquat Bagh tragedy, invoking prayers for their souls and reaffirming solidarity with the families affected by the loss.
Addressing the gathering, speakers paid a powerful tribute to Benazir Bhutto’s historic services in defence of democracy, national resilience and basic human rights, and they vowed to carry forward her agenda. The speakers called on party leadership to grant due recognition and honour to committed workers who have upheld the party’s ideological foundations over the years.
The commemoration concluded with distribution of langar to attendees and a vote of thanks from Banaras Chaudhry, who expressed appreciation for the turnout and the collective resolve to pursue Benazir Bhutto’s mission for democratic rights and social justice.
