On the eve of the third martyrdom anniversary of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto today, while we pay tribute to her courage and leadership we also vow to continue to fight for the values she upheld and laid down her life for.

Today we recall the dream she nurtured- the dream of a democratic Pakistan free of bigotry, extremism and militancy and of an egalitarian society- and vow to continue our struggle for the realization of her dream, he said.

She hoped the blossoming of the people so that each individual helped shape his own destiny, President Zardari said adding, “I call upon the Party workers, the youth, the workers and the people to join hands and work together for the realization of her hopes and dreams”.

The PPP Co-Chairman said that true to her words Mohtarma Bhutto led the fight against militancy and embraced martyrdom. She illumined the path for all of us, he said and added, “On this occasion I wish to reiterate that the Party will continue to tread the path illumined by her with her blood”.

Restoration of the democratic Constitution of 1973 was a cherished dream of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, he said. She led the relentless struggle to rid the Constitution of all undemocratic clauses that had been inserted into it by successive dictatorships. On her third death anniversary while we mourn her death we also celebrate the fulfillment of a cherished dream of her. The passage of the 18th Constitutional Amendment is a loud proclamation that in the struggle for democracy and peoples’ rights she did not lay down her life in vain.

In her last public address she warned that the country was in mortal danger due to threat posed by the militants. She asked the people to join hands against the militants and vowed to personally lead the fight. Her advice to the people was, “Please continue the fight against extremism, dictatorship, poverty and ignorance”.

To pay homage to her memory let us therefore pledge to expose the militants and fight them till the end.

On this occasion, my thoughts go to all those martyrs of the war against militancy. Our brave soldiers and members of law enforcing agencies have laid down their lives so that the nation lives in freedom and without fear. I also think of the martyrs of democracy who laid down their lives, suffered incarceration, endured exile and tortured.

Let us on this day rededicate ourselves to the mission of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto whose life was dedicated to defending the country against dictatorship, extremism and tyranny.

Today Shaheed Benazir Bhutto is not amongst us physically but her ideas and ideals are immortal and continue to instill hope guide and inspire us to higher goals.

On this occasion our thoughts go to all the martyrs who laid down their lives and many hundreds more who were maimed and wounded while protecting the life of their leader.

I also salute all those who laid down their lives for the cause for their courage, devotion and loyalty.

May the soul of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto and that of all martyrs who laid down their lives for the cause rest in eternal peace.

Presented By: Riaz Ali Toori

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