Ideals of Benazir Bhutto shall never be killed - Pakistan President

On the eve of the fourth martyrdom anniversary of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto today, while we pay tribute to her courage and leadership we also reiterate our resolve to continue to fight for the values she upheld and laid down her life for, said Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari in a message marking the fourth Martyrdom Anniversary of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto.

He said, "The twice elected Prime Minister of the country Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto was the first elected female Prime Minister anywhere in the Muslim World. The daughter of the country's first directly elceted Prime Minister she was the undaunted champion of democracy and a great fighter for the cause of women, underprivileged and marginalized sections of society. She believed in the power of the ballot and rejected violent and militant extremism as an instrument of change.

Asif Ali Zardari	Benazir Bhutto

"She not only believed in these values but also led the fight for democracy and against militancy from the front. In doing so she laid down her life and illumined the path for future generations to traverse. Today therefore our thoughts go to her and to all the martyrs who laid down their lives and many hundreds more who were maimed and wounded while protecting the life of their leader. Today also we pledge that we will continue to tread the path she illumined with her blood.

"Her assassination was a conspiracy to rid the world of its best weapon to combat international violent extremism. It was a conspiracy to rob Pakistan of its best hope to establish a fully functional democracy. The government is determined to expose and punish in accordance with the law the conspirators and perpetrators of the crime. They can not and will not go unpunished.

"On this occasion I wish to emphasize that those who assassinated her may have succeeded in eliminating her physically but the ideas and ideals of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto shall never be killed. Let there be no doubt or mistake about it.

"Today we pay tributes to her. The best way to do it is to defend and protect democracy and democratic institutions in the country and foil all conspiracies against it.

"Let us on this day rededicate ourselves to the democratic mission of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto whose life was dedicated to fighting dictatorship and those seeking to defame and dismantle democratic institutions. I therefore urge all the democratic forces and the patriotic Pakistanis to foil all conspiracies against democracy and democratic institutions.

"May the soul of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto and that of all martyrs who laid down their lives for the cause, rest in eternal peace."

President Asif Ali Zardari visited the grave of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto,on the eve of the fourth death anniversary on Monday. He laid a floral wreath, offered Fateha and recited verses from the Holy Quran. The President also visited the grave of the founder of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Shaheed Zulikfar Ali Bhutto and laid a floral wreath and offered Fateha. He also visited the graves of Madar-i-Jamhoriat Begum Nusrat Bhutto, Shaheed Murtaza Bhutto and Shaheed Shahnawaz Bhutto and laid floral wreaths and offered Fateha.