Public Holiday
The Sindh government has officially declared Friday, April 4, as a public holiday to mark the 46th death anniversary of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, the founder of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and former prime minister of Pakistan.
The decision was confirmed through a notification issued by Sindh Chief Secretary Asif Haider Shah. The notification stated that all provincial government offices, along with autonomous bodies, corporations, and local councils operating under the Sindh government, will remain closed on this day.
Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, one of the most influential political leaders in Pakistan’s history, was executed on April 4, 1979. Every year, his death anniversary is observed with great significance, particularly by the PPP, which he founded in 1967.
To commemorate the occasion, the party will organize a condolence gathering at Garhi Khuda Bakhsh, Bhutto’s final resting place. This event is expected to attract a large number of PPP workers, supporters, and political leaders from across the country.
As part of the tributes leading up to Bhutto’s death anniversary, President Asif Ali Zardari posthumously awarded Pakistan’s highest civil honour, the Nishan-e-Pakistan, to Zulfikar Ali Bhutto in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the country. The prestigious award was received by his daughter, Sanam Bhutto, during a formal ceremony held at Aiwan-i-Sadr.
The award ceremony was attended by several prominent political figures, including Senate Chairman Yousuf Raza Gilani, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, and First Lady Aseefa Bhutto-Zardari.
The event also served as a platform to honour individuals from various fields who have made remarkable contributions to Pakistan.
The declaration of a public holiday and the series of events planned for April 4 reflect the lasting legacy of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto in Pakistan’s political history.
The PPP continues to remember him as a visionary leader whose policies and reforms played a crucial role in shaping the country’s governance and democratic structure.
