FORMER Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto will be in Blackburn on Saturday to join celebrations marking her country's independence day.

She will be welcomed to the town by the borough's first ever Asian mayor, Coun Salas Kiani, and will spend time with him and other prominent members of the council and Asian community in the Mayor's parlour.

Miss Bhutto, who is the leader of the opposition in Pakistan is a member of the Pakistan People's Party, will then attend a special function at Ewood Park to mark independence day.

She was Prime Minister between 1988 and 1990 and then once again between 1993 and 1996. Between 1977 and 1984 she was under house arrest in her home country as she was the leader of the opposition to President Zia Ul Haq's military regime.

Her father, who had also been president of Pakistan, was executed by Zia's regime in 1979, despite international protests. Coun Kiani said: "It is a very proud moment for me to welcome a person who has been, along with her family, such a prominent figure in the history of Pakistan."

Coun Hussain Akhtar added: "It does not matter whether your politics agree with Benazir Bhutto's, it is an honour for such a prominent Pakistani to visit Blackburn."

The Asian community in Blackburn and Darwen accounts for more than 13 per cent of the population of the borough, with Pakistanis making up a large number of those people.

Ten of the borough's 62 councillors are from the Asian community.

Council leader Coun Malcolm Doherty said: "I am sure this will be a very interesting visit and it is appropriate that she should come to Blackburn during the term of office of Coun Kiani."

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