Shaheed Bibi remembered on birth anniversary

The country remembered on Thursday slain PPP Chairperson Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto on her 59th birth anniversary. The day dawned with recitation from the holy Quran at the graves of PPP leaders in Garhi Khuda Bukhsh. PPP leaders and workers laid floral wreaths on the graves and donated blood to mark the day. Mohtarma was born on June 21, 1953, in Karachi. She inherited leadership of the PPP after a military coup overthrew her father’s government and won elections in 1988, becoming the first woman prime minister in the Muslim world. PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari visited Garhi Khuda Bukhsh. He was accompanied by former prime minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah, provincial ministers Ayaz Soomro and Taqueer Fatima Bhutto. Bilawal Bhutto prayed, recited verses from the holy Quran and laid 59 bouquets at her grave. Meanwhile, Bilawal and Gilani also donated blood at Naudero House, Larkana. Separately, President Asif Zardari and Polio Ambassador Aseefa Bhutto Zardari donated blood at the Presidency. Chairman Bilawal  Bhutto Zardari, donated blood here on Thursday to pay tributes to Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto on her 59th birth anniversary. The former prime minister, Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani, also donated blood. Chief Minister of Sindh, Syed Qaim Ali Shah, and the central president of Peoples Doctors Forum, Senator Dr. Karim Khawaja, were also present on the occasion. The blood collections are sent to the hospitals to be used by those valiant sons of soil who sustain injuries in their fight against militants and extremists. The management of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Medical University, Chandka Medical College Hospital and district health office had set up camps to collect blood donations.