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PRESS RELEASE
London, Feb 3, 2009: Chairman Pakistan Peoples Party Mr Bilawal Bhutto has extended felicitations to Mr Bashir Riaz on his appointment as the Chairman Bhutto Legacy Research Foundation byPresident Asif Ali Zardari. "Mr Bashir Riaz has been associated with my grandfather Quaid-e-Awam Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, and then with my Mother Shaheed Mohtarama Benazir Bhutto for four decades. It is indeed an honour for us that he would be heading the Bhutto Legacy Research Foundation, which aims to document the rich contribution of the two Shaheed leaders for the cause of democracy in Pakistan," said the PPP Chairpman in Oxford today.
Mr Bilawal Bhutto said that as Shaheed Mohtarma's close aide and her Foreign Media Spokesperson, Mr Bashir Riaz has been a part of the Bhutto family since long. "When I was one year old, my mother gave an autograph to Mr Riaz on my behalf, saying: 'Dear uncle Bashir Riaz, will you be my spokesperson when I grow up.' We have grown up seeing Mr Bashir Riaz working hard to add value to my mother's struggle for the restoration of democracy in Pakistan. We all have great regard for his dedication and commitment to the mission of the Pakistan Peoples Party."
The PPP Chairman observed that Mr Bashir Riaz's years long association with the Party and the Bhutto leadership make him an appropriate choice for the important task of research, documentation and archiving of resources on the two leaders who shaped the history of Pakistan. "Mr Riaz's contribution will enable the nation to have access to factual accounts of the work of Shaheed Bhutto and Shaheed Mohtarma for democracy, constitutional and parliamentary supremacy, human rights and economic security of the common man. Both Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and my mother Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto tirelessly worked to promote the cause of democracy and people's empowerment in Pakistan. The availability of resources on their work will facilitate comprehension of the contribution and the policy direction of the two leaders who dedicated their lives for their people."
Mr Bilawal Bhutto said that in a recent meeting with Mr. Bashir Riaz, he asked him to write a book on Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto. "Being a close associate of my mother, Mr Bashir Riaz has an in depth knowledge and understanding of Shaheed Mohtarma's vision and efforts for world peace, security, and development and progress of Pakistan. Mr Bashir Riaz, through his writings, can certainly present a thorough account of my mother's dedicated efforts for the promotion of the causes that she courageously espoused."
The PPP Chairman said that he wished the Chairman Bhutto Legacy Research Foundation well. "The Foundation will make an important contribution to the knowledge spectrum of Pakistan. Mr. Bashir Riaz has our good wishes for this mission.
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Agha Tanveer Iqbal
Secretary Information
PPP Greater London
+44-07931445834
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