Islamabad, December 27, 2025: President Asif Ali Zardari on Saturday stressed the need for political unity and reconciliation as the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) marked the 18th death anniversary of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, who was assassinated in Rawalpindi on December 27, 2007.
In a message issued on the occasion, President Zardari urged the nation to rise above divisions and uphold democratic values. “As we reflect on this solemn day on her 18th martyrdom anniversary, we must choose unity over division,” he said, recalling Benazir Bhutto’s belief that “democracy is the best revenge.”
He said Benazir never believed in vindictiveness and consistently called for healing political rifts, strengthening democratic institutions, and working collectively for the country’s progress. “On her anniversary, I reaffirm the commitment to carrying forward her vision of a democratic, inclusive, tolerant, pluralist and forward-looking Pakistan,” the president added.
Paying tribute to her political struggle, President Zardari said Benazir Bhutto, the first woman prime minister of a Muslim country, stood firm for constitutional supremacy, parliamentary authority and the people’s right to choose their representatives despite facing authoritarianism and repeated disruptions of democracy.
“She gave voice to the voiceless,” he said, highlighting her focus on farmers, workers and low-income families, as well as her efforts to expand access to livelihoods and education. He also recalled her strong opposition to sectarianism, intolerance and bigotry, and her consistent advocacy for minority rights.
Describing her assassination as a reminder of the broader fight against extremism, President Zardari said the struggle against terrorism was not only about security but also about ideas, education and respect for diversity. He urged the youth to draw inspiration from her life by standing for justice, organising peacefully and never surrendering hope.
To mark the anniversary, the Sindh government declared a public holiday, while stringent security arrangements were put in place in Larkana and Garhi Khuda Bakhsh, where Benazir Bhutto is laid to rest. More than 8,500 police personnel, along with Rangers and other security agencies, were deployed at and around the mausoleum as hundreds of thousands of PPP supporters from across the country gathered to pay homage. President Zardari, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and senior party leaders attended the main ceremony.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also paid tribute to Benazir Bhutto, describing her as a symbol of patriotism, courage and unwavering commitment to democratic values. He said her emphasis on tolerance, harmony and forbearance in politics remained a guiding principle for strengthening democracy, reaffirming the government’s resolve to uphold democratic governance, rule of law and public welfare.
In a message issued a day earlier, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari said his mother’s “supreme sacrifice was a pledge written in blood that democracy in Pakistan would never surrender.” He described Benazir Bhutto as a fearless voice of democracy and an enduring symbol of resistance against dictatorship, extremism and intolerance. Reaffirming the party’s commitment to her mission, Bilawal said the PPP would continue to struggle for social and economic justice, constitutional supremacy, women’s empowerment and minority rights.
Benazir Bhutto’s daughter Aseefa Bhutto-Zardari, who visited her mother’s mausoleum, said in a social media post that Benazir lived with courage and led with compassion, adding that her strength continued to inspire voices that refuse injustice.
Senator Sherry Rehman also paid tribute, saying Benazir Bhutto never compromised on her dreams for Pakistan despite grave threats, and that her vision lived on through President Zardari, Bilawal and Aseefa.
Meanwhile, a government delegation led by National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq arrived in Garhi Khuda Bakhsh on the special instructions of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to attend the commemorative gathering and hold meetings with PPP leadership. Sadiq described Benazir Bhutto as a great daughter of Pakistan whose sacrifices and services remained a guiding light for the nation.
