ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and national leaders on Saturday paid tribute to former prime minister Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto and the martyrs of democracy on the 18th anniversary of the Karsaz tragedy, describing the 2007 attack as a defining moment in Pakistan’s democratic struggle.
President Asif Ali Zardari said Benazir Bhutto’s courage and sacrifice continued to inspire those fighting for democracy and peace. He recalled that despite clear threats to her life, she returned to Pakistan and resumed her political campaign after the Karsaz attack, visiting hospitals and the families of victims the following day.
“The courage and sacrifice of the martyrs of the Karsaz tragedy reinforced our national resolve to defeat terrorism and extremism,” the president said in a statement issued by the Presidency.
First Lady and Member of the National Assembly Aseefa Bhutto Zardari said the Karsaz site remained a “blood-stained witness” to the nation’s democratic struggle. She said more than 180 party workers were martyred while protecting Benazir Bhutto when her homecoming rally was attacked on 18 October 2007.
“The martyrs of Karsaz did not fall in vain; they planted the seeds of courage that continue to bloom in every struggle for democracy,” she said, vowing to carry forward their mission until every citizen of Pakistan enjoys equality and freedom.
PPP Vice President Senator Sherry Rehman also paid tribute to the martyrs and survivors of the attack, calling it the deadliest assault in Pakistan’s political history. She said the tragedy highlighted the party’s unmatched sacrifices for the Constitution and democracy.
“October 18 was not just the day Benazir Bhutto returned — it was the day democracy itself returned to Pakistan,” she said, adding that the PPP would continue her mission under the leadership of President Asif Ali Zardari and Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.
Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti said the Karsaz tragedy was a dark but defining chapter in the country’s political history. He said the attack was a blow to democratic values but also a testament to the strength and perseverance of the people’s movement.
He said Benazir Bhutto’s leadership gave Pakistan a message of unity, courage, and hope, and that the martyrs of Karsaz “kept the candle of democracy burning with their blood.”
