By KUNA
Islamabad : Thousands of people gathered in the hometown of assassinated Benazir Bhutto in the southern Sindh province to mark the end of 40-day mourning period.
Television footage showed thousands of people from across Pakistan arriving in Naudero, her hometown, in caravans to attend the prayers and rituals.
A public holiday has been announced in the province.
Heavy contingents of police and the Rangers have been deployed in Naudero, her hometown, and interior Sindh in view of security risks. According to police sources, security has been given red alert in Karachi, the port city and capital of Sindh province.
With the end of rituals, her Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) will formally launch campaigning for elections on February 18.
Bhutto was assassinated on December 27, 2007 in a suicide blast after addressing an election rally in Rawalpindi. Her death sparked countrywide violent protest demonstrations that caused heavy property damage and killed more than a dozen people.