PPP permitted to hold rally on Benazir's death anniversary

The Lahore High Court (LHC) has permitted the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) to mark the 11th death anniversary of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto by holding a rally at Liaquat Bagh - the place where she was assassinated in 2007.

The permission was granted on Thursday, The Express Tribune reported.

In a notification issued on Monday, Rawalpindi Deputy Commissioner Saifullah Dogar said police and the special branch had recommended against holding a public gathering at the venue owing to the prevailing security situation.

The Rawalpindi bench rejected this decision and permitted the PPP to hold the public rally on December 27.

"This would not be necessary if Benazir Bhutto was given security."

Ahead of Thursday's order, the PPP on Wednesday insisted that it would hold the rally at Liaquat Bagh on Friday, whether the party got the permission or not.

Bhutto was shot dead on December 27, 2007 while she was addressing an election rally at Liaquat Bagh. Immediately after she was shot, a suicide bomb was detonated which killed 23 other people.