Stamps, posters to mark Bhutto's birth anniversary

Pakistan will issue special stamps and souvenir posters on Saturday to mark the 55th birth anniversary of slain former premier Benazir Bhutto while a public holiday has been declared in Sindh, her home province.

The Rs 4 stamps and Rs 20 posters will be available at post offices across the country from June 21, Bhutto's birth anniversary.

The government of Sindh province, the traditional stronghold of Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party, has declared a public holiday to mark the anniversary.

PPP workers, led by party Chairman and Bhutto's widower Asif Ali Zardari, will donate blood to mark the day. The party has issued strict instructions that there should be no celebrations and cake cutting to mark the anniversary.

The main function will be held at Liaquat Bagh in Rawalpindi, where Bhutto was assassinated after addressing an election rally on December 27 last year.

A camp will be set up at Liaquat Bagh where party workers will donate blood. Later in the evening, a commemorative function, including recitations from the Quran and a vigil, will be held at the site to pay homage to Bhutto.

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah will flag off a fast train from Larkana to Karachi on the day.

Meanwhile, an exhibition of Bhutto's photographs was organised at PTV's headquarters in the federal capital on Thursday. The exhibition titled "Portrait of Courage" was inaugurated by Information Minister Sherry Rehman, a close aide of the late PPP chairperson.