Particle.news
Download on the App Store

Bhutto Anniversary Draws Pakistan's Leaders, Zardari and Bilawal Emphasize Military Readiness

Leaders used the memorial to pair tributes with stark claims about recent military readiness, signaling a push for stability through dialogue.

Overview

  • At Gurdhi Khuda Bakhsh on the 18th anniversary of Benazir Bhutto’s assassination, President Asif Ali Zardari, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and other PPP figures led commemorations attended by a PML‑N delegation.
  • Ayaz Sadiq and senior PML‑N leaders joined the event, stressing political stability and inviting talks, with statements that PTI should engage through parliament for negotiations.
  • Zardari asserted Pakistan downed Indian aircraft and could have taken more, framing the military as prepared for any imposed conflict, while Bilawal linked capabilities to past PPP decisions.
  • Authorities deployed roughly 8,500 police for the Sukkur‑area gathering, reflecting heightened security at the large public memorial.
  • The FBR said it will begin monitoring social‑media accounts from January 1 to target sales of smuggled goods, as separate officials reported an NCCIA cyber‑blackmail arrest in Islamabad and police recovery of a 14‑year‑old kidnapping victim.