DUBAI: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) members and other segments of the society remembered former prime minister Benazir Bhutto (BB) on her tenth death anniversary in Dubai.

During an event, organised by the former PPP president for the Gulf region Mian Munir Hans, senior leaders of the party paid glowing tributes to the first woman premier of Pakistan.

While honouring the charismatic politician and two-time prime minister, participants applauded BB’s sacrifices for the sake of democracy and rule of law in the country.

“Benazir always stood for the rights of people and opposed the oppressive forces with her full strength. She stayed for a long time in Dubai during her exile days and always treated the UAE-based PPP workers with kindness. Though she is no more, her ideology will never die. She is still ruling our hearts,” Hans said.

While praising Benazir’s bravery, senior leaders recalled how she returned to Pakistan despite serious threats from Taliban militants and how she challenged the radical forces, when other political leaders were reluctant to take on the hardliners.

Ehsan Goga, son of a security guard who was killed along with Benazir in a gun and suicide attack in Rawalpindi on Dec.27, 2007, complained that the PPP’s leadership has ignored the families of those who sacrificed their lives on the fateful day a decade ago. However, Hans assured him of full support to address the grievances of victims’ kin.

BHATTI JOINS PPP

Also during the meeting, Abbas Bhatti, a senior member of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), in the UAE announced he was joining the PPP and vowed to work for the betterment of the party and country.

Bilawal Bhutto Zardari addressed the workers via a recorded video message and pledged to carry on the mission and progressive ideology of his mother.

PPP’s Punjab President Qamar Zaman Kaira also addressed the participants through phone and admired BB’s contribution in strengthening the democracy in Pakistan.

Other leaders who heaped praises on Benazir included Hafiz Tariq, Malik Khadim Shaheen, Malik Aslam, Farooq Cheechi, Bashir Bahadur, Zulfiqar Mughal, Irfan Gondal, Shahzadi Tauseef Cheema, Rana Arif, Shahzad Chaudhry, Mian Abid Ali, Shafeeq Siddiqui and others.