December 27 holiday in Sindh to mourn Bhutto killing

KARACHI: The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) government of Sindh on Tuesday declared December 27 as a public holiday to mark the 15th anniversary of the assassination of former prime minister and party chairperson Benazir Bhutto, according to a notification issued by the province.

Bhutto, a charismatic and controversial politician who served twice as prime minister between 1988 and 1997, was killed in a shooting and bomb attack as she left a political rally in Rawalpindi in December 2007, two months after she returned from exile to contest the national elections.

"The government has been pleased to declare December 27 as a public holiday throughout the province of Sindh on the occasion of [killing] of Benazir Bhutto for all offices, autonomous, semi-autonomous bodies, corporations, and local councils under the control of Sindh, except the essential services and those engaged in Covid-19 emergency and flood relief duties," read the notification.

Moreover, December 26 has been declared a public holiday for Christian members of the administration on the eve of Christmas.