LARKANA: Foolproof security for the VVIPs, VIPs and general public has been ensured as over 8,500 police officers and personnel, besides Rangers and other security agencies, have been deployed at and around Bhuttos’ mausoleum for the 18th death anniversary programme of slain prime minister Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto being held on Saturday.
Several hundred thousand people coming from across the country are expected to attend the programme, where President Asif Ali Zardari, Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and many other senior PPP leaders are to pay homage to Shaheed Benazir Bhutto in Garhi Khuda Bakhsh Bhutto.
Several hundred caravans of party workers and supporters had already arrived close to the venue by buses, trucks, cars and other vehicles while hundreds others were on their way to Garhi Khuda Bakhsh on foot, reports from the area said on Friday evening.
CCTV cameras and walk-through gates have been installed at the venue and all along the routes leading to it.
KP Governor Faisal Kundi, many other senior PPP leaders arrive in Garhi Khuda Bakhsh Bhutto
Commandos from various districts of Sindh have been stationed in Naudero for their deployment on Friday night and Saturday. Regular, reserve and traffic police personnel have also been kept ready for their duties.
Security arrangements reviewed
Sindh Home Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar, meanwhile, visited Larkana SSP’s office to chair a high-level meeting to discuss security arrangements. Larkana DIG and other senior district police officers were also present.
The SSP briefed the meeting in detail about the operational plan for Garhi Khuda Bakhsh, Naudero and adjoining areas.
He said that more than 8,500 police officers and personnel have been deployed and an additional force provided by the Larkana Central Police Office was on standby. He said that the Rapid Response Force, along with women police personnel, has already been deployed.
Night-vision cameras have been installed on a permanent basis at the mausoleum and along the routes leading to it. More cameras have also been installed at the entry/exit points of the adjacent katcha (riverine) areas on a permanent basis, he added.
He said that security at the mausoleum has been organised in four layers.
The minister stressed strict monitoring through intelligence surveillance, walkthrough gates, metal detectors and CCTV cameras to avert any untoward incident.
Huge stage ready
Party workers assigned to make arrangements for the programme have installed a huge stage measuring 60x30 feet with a height of eight feet.
Reception camps have been set up at the main entry points of Garhi Khuda Bakhsh Bhutto while big portraits of Benazir Bhutto, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and other senior PPP leaders have been pasted on billboards and hoardings across the routes of the venue and in many areas of Larkana.
PPP Sindh President Nisar Ahmed Khuhro visited the reception camps, inspected the stage and reviewed the arrangements, besides issuing necessary directives to party workers.
Facilities for participants
Suitable arrangements have been made to extend all essentially required facilities, including accommodation, food, water and healthcare to the huge number of participants coming from across the country.
Special parking areas have been designated and medical camps set up at accessible points.
Published in Dawn, December 27th, 2025
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