By NNN-APP
London : British Parliamentarians paid tributes to the assassinated former prime minister and chairperson, Pakistan People’s Party, Benazir Bhutto saying that her sacrifice for the cause of democracy must not go waste. They heaped praise on her at a memorial meeting held at the historic Moses Room of the House of Lords which was organised by the United International Community in UK under the patronage of Lord Nazir Ahmad and Shazada Hayat.
Apart from Lord Ahmad and Shazada Hayat, the noted British parliamentarians who spoke on the occasion were Patricia Hewett, Baroness Saiyda Warsi, Gerald Kauffmann, William Hague, Baroness Faulkner, Simon Hughes, Duncan Smith and Alan Duncan.
Others who also paid their tributes were Lady Olga Maitland, former Chief Minister Sindh, Syed Ghaus Ali Shah, Councillor Liaquat Ali,Mayor, Walthamstow, Councillor Mushtaq Lasharie, Naushaba Baig, Julie Morgan, Amjad Malik and Robin Smith, Head of Her Majesty Constabulary.
The participants said Benazir Bhutto was courageous woman who did not hide her ideas and served her country with courage. She was an international figure and a peer among the Muslim women who twice became the prime minister of her country.
Lord Nazir said Ms.Bhutto enjoyed support in all the four provinces of Pakistan and she understood both the Western and Islamic values. He said Ms.Bhutto had returned to Pakistan to bring about a change in the country and for the betterment of her people.
Lady Olga who hosted a dinner in Ms.Bhutto’s honour in London just before her arrival in Pakistan on October 18, spoke of her deep personal loss and said the late Pakistan Opposition leader has left behind a lasting legacy in the world.” Her spirit is eternally with us,” she remarked.
Kaufmann, a former Foreign Secretary, described Ms.Bhutto as a role model for the Muslim women but one who died for democracy.
The Conservative party spokesman on Foreign Affairs William Hague said Ms.Bhutto was absolutely determined to serve her country. “We felt very deeply and angry in Parliament about her loss because we want to see Pakistan prosperous and successful,” he said.
Baroness Saiyda Warsi described Ms.Bhutto as an iconic figure whose legacy will live on and her loss will live in the memory for many years to come.
Simon Hughes, President, Liberal-Democrats Party and Duncan Smith, a former Conservative Party leader, spoke eloquently about the late PPP leader and noted her various achievement including the President ship of the Oxford Union which they described as a singular honour for a Muslim woman from South Asia.
The Tory Party MP Alan Duncan, Benazir’s former colleague at the Oxford University, spoke of his sadness at her death and said she was struck down at the peak of her power.” He noted that he last received her e-mail on December 24. She ended:” Still better to be optimist ( on election outcome) and what man proposes, God disposes.
Ghaus Ali Shah remarked that Benazir’s mission was democracy and she had returned to Pakistan to precisely do that.” It is now imperative that all democratic forces must now carry forward her mission to ensure complete democracy in the country.”
A similar function was also organised by the All Party Parliamentary Group on Third World Solidarity on Wednesday evening the Portcullis House, House of Commons in which British Mps Dave Anderson, Muhammad Sarwar,Martin Salter, Lord Ahmad and Benazir’s personal friend and journalist Victoria Schofield also spoke. They were joined by Wajid Shamsul Hassan, Mushtaq Lasharie, Leonid Suhorukov and Councillor Liaqat Ali.
The speakers discussed the various aspects of Benazir’s political personality and highlighted her services for the cause of democracy. They said democracy in Pakistan must not be allowed to die with her.
The speakers said chaos and violence would be no tribute to her.Ms. Bhutto was a fine patriot and a pragmatist who was also a woman who sought to recognise and balance the enduring nature of her own society and was keen to bring about modernity in Pakistan.