A supporter of former Pakistani Prime Minister Bhutto shows the commemorative coin issued by the State Bank of Pakistan on the first anniversary of Bhutto's death in Karachi Dec. 26, 2008. Bhutto was assassinated on Dece. 27, 2007 after a public rally in Rawalpindi. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    by Li Zhongfa

    ISLAMABAD, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan is set to mark the first anniversary of the assassination of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto on Saturday when hundreds of thousands of people will gather at her grave in southern province.

    Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari, Bhutto's widower, and Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani are expected to lead the mourners at the Bhutto family mausoleum in the town of Garhi KhudaBakhsh of Sindh province.

    Bhutto's son Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, who co-chairs the ruling Pakistan People's People (PPP) with his father, will also be present at the ceremony.

    Bhutto was killed in a gun and bomb attack on Dec. 27 last year after addressing an election rally in the garrison city of Rawalpindi.

    The PPP, after Bhutto's killing, won the general elections in February and formed a coalition government. Zardari was elected President of Pakistan in September this year.

    Gilani has declared Saturday a national holiday to remember the two-time former prime minister. The central bank will also issue anew 10-rupee coin with Bhutto's portrait on it.

    TV footage shows that tents have been set up in the town of Garhi Khuda Bakhsh to accommodate hundreds of thousands of people who will travel from different places across the country.

    A special security arrange, especially in Sindh province, was made to avert possible violent attacks.

    Bhutto's assassination remains a mystery as her death anniversary is being commemorated.

    After Bhutto was killed, then President Pervez Musharraf had asked for a Scotland Yard team to join in the investigation.

    But the PPP said the Scotland Yard team was given "limited mandate" during their probe, and was not authorized to investigate who are the persons behind the hideous crime.

    The PPP-led government has requested the UN's probe into Bhutto's killing, but there has been no progress so far.