Benazir Bhutto, twice elected as the prime minister of Pakistan, was assassinated on December 27, 2007, as she returned after addressing a mammoth rally at Rawalpindi's Liaquat Bagh. ? FILE

KARACHI: The provincial government of Sindh has announced a public holiday on Wednesday on account of 10th death anniversary of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto.

Benazir, twice elected as the prime minister of Pakistan, was assassinated on December 27, 2007, as she returned after addressing a mammoth rally at Rawalpindi's Liaquat Bagh. Gunshots were heard, followed by a suicide blast at the venue, which left the former premier among nearly two dozen others dead.

The PPP has been commemorating the 10th death anniversary of its late leader, regarding which it has organised a central ceremony in Bhutto's ancestral village Garhi Khuda Bakhsh in Larkana district of Sindh.

All preparations have been finalised for the events marking the death anniversary, while caravans of party workers have been en route to Larkana to pay their respects to their late leader.

A meeting of the PPP central executive council is scheduled for today at the Naudero House in Larkana, for which key party members have already arrived in Larkana. PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari will jointly preside over the meeting.

The anniversary observances will start with a 'Mushaira' at 1 pm, followed by a condolence rally at 4 pm on Wednesday. The rally would be addressed by Zardari and Bilawal.

Speaking to media earlier at the Sukkur airport, Sherry Rehman said Benazir Bhutto laid her life like a soldier. She criticised the incumbent government in the centre for pushing the country under huge debts, adding that only the PPP has the narrative of development.

Former interior minister Rehman Malik demanded the Afghan president to hand over the suspect involved in Bhutto's assassination.

Latif Khosa said the PPP, despite having given sacrifices, raised the slogan of 'Pakistan khappay'.

Security arrangements

Stern security arrangements have been made to ensure security of participants during the events of Bhutto's death anniversary. 

More than 7000 personnel of Rangers and police will perform security duty, whereas additional personnel of traffic police would be deployed to maintain the flow of traffic.

All those arriving to attend the rally will have to pass through the walk-through gates and would only be allowed to enter the venue after body search.

Over 60 CCTV cameras have also been installed in Garhi Khuda Bakhsh to monitor the events.