FORMER Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto made a plea for peace between India and Pakistan as she celebrated her country's Independence Day in Blackburn.

Mrs Bhutto was the guest of Blackburn with Darwen's first Asian Mayor Coun Salas Kiani and spent time with other prominent members of the council and community leaders.

Crowds gathered outside the town hall on Saturday afternoon, some protesting at her presence and others welcoming her.

She was welcomed to the borough by Rossendale and Darwen MP Janet Anderson and council leader Coun Malcolm Doherty who told her of the "fantastic job" Coun Kiani was doing.

Mrs Bhutto, leader of the opposition in Pakistan, said: "I want to congratulate you Mr Mayor and tell you how proud I am that the people of Blackburn and Darwen have elected you to this high post and how it gives me such pride that in such a short time you have already impressed the people of this city."

A packed council chamber listened as Mrs Bhutto also spoke of the unrest between Pakistan and India and her hopes for a peaceful resolution to the problems in South Asia.

She said: "We in Pakistan and South Asia have been held hostage over the unresolved dispute in Kashmir. I hope that we may be able to exchange ideas and make a move towards peace in South Asia in accordance with the wishes of the people. "Today is Pakistan's Independence Day, tomorrow is India's. It is a time to reflect on how far we have come and how far we still have to go.

"As a Pakistani I feel shaken by recent events and I am sure that all South Asians have similar feelings."

Mrs Bhutto spoke about new dangers and threats faced by the people of South Asia with both Pakistan and India having "awesome nuclear capabilities".

But she said that nuclear power was not the answer to the region's problems.

"There is some hope that the process of dialogue can resume to bring peace to the region."

Mrs Bhutto said South Asia had shattered many myths, one of which was that independence can be preserved by nuclear power.

She said: "There was the presumption that missiles and bombs made us powerful and mighty, but when sanctions were imposed we were not strong because our economy was weak.

"Independence Day is a time to celebrate the independence of our country and to reaffirm that we are all members of the Commonwealth family.

"Let us learn from the lessons of the past and let us resume a dialogue that can lead to a resolution of the Kashmir dispute." After a reception at the town hall, Mrs Bhutto visited the Museum and Art Gallery, before going on to see a friend in Billinge then enjoying a celebration of Pakistan's Independence Day at Ewood Park.

Coun Hussain Akhtar said: "I am very grateful to Benazir Bhutto for giving so much time to visit the people of Blackburn with Darwen. It was a great honour for the Pakistani community and the town as a whole for her to visit."

Benazir Bhutto was Prime Minister of Pakistan between 1988 and 1990 and again between 1993 and 1996.

From 1977 to 1984 she was under house arrest in her home country as she was the leader of the opposition to president Zia Ul Hap's military regime.

At the moment Mrs Bhutto is staying in London and faces arrest on corruption charges when she returns to Pakistan.

She denies the charges and claims she is the victim of a "witchunt" because of the popularity of her Pakistan People's Party.

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