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Sharif cancels B'day bash in view of Bhutto death anniversary
As Pakistan prepared to observe the first death anniversary of Benazir Bhutto on December 27, PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif has cancelled his birthday bash on Thursday as a mark of respect for the slain ex-premier.
As Pakistan prepared to observe the first death anniversary of Benazir Bhutto on December 27, PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif has cancelled his birthday bash on Thursday as a mark of respect for the slain ex-premier, who had accompanied him on "the road to democracy".
Sharif, who turns 59 on Thursday, has directed his party to cancel all festivities related to his birthday to express solidarity with the Bhutto family.
In a message, the former Premier said the best way to pay homage to Bhutto, who was assassinated in a gun-and-suicide attack on December 27 last year, was to "eliminate each and every symbol of dictatorship".
Sharif said Bhutto was "accompanying him on the road to democracy" and her death had hit democratic forces in Pakistan.
He said he believed the national scenario would have been different if she had not been killed.
The PML-N was part of the ruling coalition till August, when it broke away with the PPP.
Sharif had accused PPP chief Asif Ali Zardari of failing to deliver on several promises, including the restoration of judges sacked during last year's emergency by former President Pervez Musharraf.