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17th death anniversary observed

Benazir vows to continue

Bhutto's mission

LARKANA: Glowing tributes were paid to Quaid- e-Awam Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto on the occasion of his 17th death anniversary at Garhi Khuda Bux here on Thursday with Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto vowing to continue to fulfil his mission to build a strong and prosperous Pakistan.

"The PPP will continue to strive for a strong and prosperous Pakistan, welfare of its people and ensuring supremacy of the principles of law and justice", a visibly moved but highly composed Prime Minister declared while addressing a massive gathering. The people including PPP workers and leaders had assembled at Garhi Khuda Bux from all over the country and Azad Kashmir to pay homage to their leader.

Recounting the achievements of PPP and its leader Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, the Prime Minister said it was the charishmatic personality and sagacity of Quaid-e-Awam which brought about political awakening in the people of Pakistan, and it was due to his supreme sacrifices that democracy became the destiny of this country creating an eternal place in the hearts of the people.

The Prime Minister said that today PPP is the party and voice of poor and downtrodden people belonging to all parts of the country and the victory of party candidates in the recently held by-elections was a clear testimony of that fact.

The people of Pakistan, she said, were not afraid of feudals and capitalists, and no more bow their heads before them. They have now learned how to seek their rights, as Quaid-e-Awam gave them the courage and confidence to raise voice for their rights.

She said there is no party, other than PPP which can win majority of votes from all over Pakistan.

Benazir Bhutto said that Quaid-e-Awam was a staunch supporter of Pakistani nationalism. He waged a struggle against foreign powers only for the existence of Pakistan and for the cause of its oppressed people.

She said 21st century was now approaching closer and it was time for everyone to see how far they are able to prepare themselves to face the new challenges.

Prime Minister said she was proud of being the daughter of that mujahid and also proud of having the confidence of the lovers of Bhutto. "Their strength is my strength and since 1977 when Quaid-e-Awam was jailed I have been serving their cause".

Benazir Bhutto said other parties held power by riding over the shoulders of dictators. They came into assemblies by participating in non-party elections. They got the government through drawing room conspiracies, but the PPP workers never accepted power from backdoor.

The Prime Minister pledged and vowed never to deviate from the path of principles of Islam, democracy, power of the people, truth and justice. She said that she would continue to strive for the peace, progress, economic stability and prosperity of the people of Pakisan.

She appealed to her workers to spread the message that existence of Pakistan is linked with the unity. If the nation exists we exist, she emphasised, and said that the right of rule over the country has been given to people alone and they exercise their right through ballot.

Prime Minister said that Bhutto Shaheed had given his life for the stability of parliament and Pakistan and even today the stability of Pakistan is linked with the stability of Parliament.

Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto outlined the achievements of her government and said that since assuming power in 1994, PPP has enhanced Pakistan's prestige at the international level . It was because of its efforts that foreign investment was pouring in and industrial units coming up and people are getting jobs.

She said her Government took firm stand against Kalashnikov culture and narcotics and fought against terrorism. Her government had the credit when Brown Amendment was upheld despite India's efforts as a result of which the US was preparing to supply arms to Pakistan it reflects Pakistan's moral victory.

The Prime Minister said that her Government did not given in against terrorism and lawlessness and succeeded in resotoring peace and harmony in the city of Karachi. She said the PPP is now struggling for political and economic stability of Pakistan and its people.

She flayed those who, she said, were opposing the construction of Mazar of Quaid-e-Awam. The mazar of Quaid-e-Awam is being constructed by the people of Pakistan to pay homage to a leader who gave them a peaceful nuclear programme, got the nation free from slavery, and sacrificed his life for the cause of democracy.-APP