Thousands of mourners joined Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani for the funeral of a former first lady who was also the mother of assassinated Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.

Nusrat Bhutto, who died in Dubai Saturday at age 82, was buried Monday at the Bhutto family graveyard in the southern province of Sindh.

Mr. Gilani declared Monday a public holiday and ordered a 10-day period of national mourning.

Nusrat Bhutto's husband, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, was the founder of the Pakistan People's Party and served as prime minister from 1973 until 1977.

The first lady took over as head of the party after Mr. Bhutto was executed in 1979, and also served in parliament.

Later, Bhutto's daughter, Benazir, took over as head of the party and served two separate terms as Pakistan's prime minister.

Benazir Bhutto was assassinated in 2007 while addressing a campaign rally. Her husband, Asif Ali Zardari, is now Pakistan's president.