Bhutto to be honoured by supporters in ceremony.

Byline: By Gareth Rogers South Wales Echo 

South Wales' Pakistani community is to hold a special ceremony to honour their homeland's assassinated former prime minister Benazir Bhutto.

After the shock killing of the powerful politician, who devoted her life to democracy in the troubled country, Cardiff's Pakistani community is to come together to mark her passing in their own special way.

Shazada Hayat, who worships at the Madina Mosque, Roath, Cardiff, said: "This is such a tragedy and we felt we had to do something.

"It is a chance for the community to get together to remember a wonderful woman."

The 39-year-old lawyer added: "To see the footage and images on television of her in a wooden box - the only way I can compare it is to how the British people and the world was shocked at the sudden death of Princess Diana. We weren't expecting it.

"This is not just a great loss to the Pakistani community, but a great loss to people throughout the world."

The ceremony will be held in Eastern Leisure Centre, Llanrumney, Cardiff, at 3pm tomorrow.

Ms Bhutto was buried yesterday beside her father Zulfiquar Ali Bhutto, another former prime minister of Pakistan, who was executed in 1979 on conspiracy to murder charges.

As cities around Pakistan descended into chaos following the attack, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said he has spoken to Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf and urged him to "stick to the course he has outlined to build democracy and stability in Pakistan".

Although Brown did not specifically say elections should be held on Tuesday, January 8, he said: "This was a cowardly terrorist act designed to destabilise democratic elections.

"The international community is united in its outrage and determination that those who stoop to such tactics shall not prevail."

Civil unrest has claimed another 31 lives since Bhutto's assassination.