ISLAMABAD : National Assembly on Saturday paid rich tributes to slain Pakistan Peoples Party leader Benazir Bhutto on her 55th birth anniversary as Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani announced that the government would recommend to the President to commute death penalties into life in prison and reduce the jail term of prisoners by 90 days.

“Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto was a leader of international stature. We will accomplish the mission of our great leader to make Pakistan a peaceful, democratic and welfare state,” Gilani said while speaking in the National Assembly, which set aside the days agenda to honour Benazir Bhutto.

The slain leader was honoured by both treasury and the opposition benches as the house showed unprecedented solidarity, which Gilani termed a success got through Benazirs reconciliation efforts. “We present this solidarity as a birthday gift to Shaheed Ms Bhutto as she had always talked of political reconciliation,” said Gilani.

“Benazir Bhutto believed in democracy and wanted top priority on health and education sectors,” he said. Gilani named Islamabad International Airport, Murree Road and the Rawalpindi General Hospital, where she breathed her last, after Benazir Bhutto.

The Prime Minister also announced a package of Rs 50 million for the hospital. He said a monument would be built at the site of Bhuttos assassination. Gilani announced the establishment of Benazir Bhutto Trust, which will look after the children, particularly those from the Fata, whose parents lost their lives in terrorist attacks and bomb blasts.

“We have to pledge to the nation that we will make Pakistan a safe heaven for humanity and not for terrorists,” he added. Opposition and treasury members said that Benazir Bhutto was not only brilliant in mind, but she was brilliant in courage and she returned to the country despite knowing the fact that her life was under threat.

Speaker Fehmida Mirza said that Benazir Bhutto was an icon of hope for the oppressed people of Pakistan as she struggled hard for their rights. “Mohtarma started the process of reconciliation,” said the Speaker as some lady MNA of the PPP broke into tears during the session.

She said that since a large number of members wanted to pay their tributes and respects to Shaheed leader, she suggested that a register should be placed in the Prime Ministers chamber in which they can record their sentiments. Prime Minister Gilani, however, said that since speaker was the custodian of the House, the register should be kept in her chamber.

MNA Riaz Pirzada of the PML (Q), Haider Abbas Rizvi of the MQM, Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao of the PPP (S), Sheikh Aftab of the PML (N), Abdul Mateen Khan of the ANP, Munir Aurakzai from Fata and others also paid homage to the PPP leader. Business Recorder, 2008