Geo Pakistan

"Begum Nusrat Bhutto laid to rest in Garhi Khuda Bux"

LARKANA: Begum Nusrat Bhutto has been laid to rest at Garhi Khuda Bux, Geo News reported. The former first lady was buried in the Bhutto family graveyard alongside her husband Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto. Begum Nusrat’s funeral prayers were held at the Naudero house and attended by President Zardari, Prime Minister Gilani, PPP co-chairman Bilawal Bhutto and other prominent politicians. Strict security arrangements were in place at Garhi Khuda Bux and the Bhutto family mausoleum had been sealed for the general public. Her Soyem will be held on Wednesday evening at the Naudero House. Begum Nusrat Bhutto passed away at the age of 82 in Dubai on October 23 and her body was brought back to Pakistan on Monday. Begum Nusrat Bhutto received a guard of honour at the Sukkur airport and earlier on Monday the acting President approved conferment of Nishan-e-Imtiaz award on the former first lady Begum Nusrat Bhutto. Begum Nusrat Bhutto waged almost a decade long political struggle for revival of democracy, restoration of Constitution and upholding of fundamental rights of the Pakistani people in the face of brutal dictatorship. She was born on September 21, 1929 in an Iranian family. He father was a wealthy Iranian businessman settled in Karachi. Begum Nusrat Bhutto met married Zulfiqar Bhutto in Karachi and was the first lady of Pakistan from 1973-77. In 1979, after the trial and execution of her husband, she and her daughters were imprisoned and placed under house arrest by the then regime of late dictator Zia-ul-Haq. However, due to health concerns she was later permitted to leave the country for London, where she was later joined by her daughters Benazir and Sanam. She became leader of the PPP during her London exile and although she was chairperson of the party for life, her daughter Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto later replaced her. After returning to Pakistan in the late 1980s, she served several terms as an MP to the National Assembly from the family constituency of Larkana in Sindh. Twice Begum Bhutto was elected member of the National Assembly, remained a senior minister and also a constant source of inspiration for her daughter former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, masses and PPP workers especially.