Supreme Court of Pakistan (SC) will hear reference filed by federation for revisiting the case of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto on April 13.
According to the press release issued by SC, the Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry has been pleased to fix the Reference No. 01/2011, received from the President, Islamic Republic of Pakistan under Article 186 of the Constitution for revisiting the case of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto in the Court on 13.04.2011.
Federal government filed reference to revisit the murder case of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto with the approval of President Asif Ali Zardari in the Supreme Court on Saturday through Ministry of Law, Government of Pakistan. The law Secretary Masood Chishti filed the reference in the office of the DR Faqir Hussain, Registrar of the SC.
The federation has contended in the reference that the judges of the apex court had given biased decision in the case of Zulifqar Ali Bhutto, so the court might reopen the case and suspend the death sentence of former Prime Minister. Federation has pleaded that the court may proceed against those judges who sentenced the former premier.
It has been contended in the reference that there was contradiction in the statements of the witnesses, adding that instead of giving the benefit of doubt to the former premier court awarded the benefit to the petitioner; court should also review this aspect of the case.
Federation has annexure the statement of Justice Naseem Hassan Shah in which, he allegedly admitted that the court gave the decision of Z.A Bhutto murder case under pressure.
Three questions have been raised in the reference that ‘whether the independent court gave the decision without any pressure?
Whether legally this case was registered against Z.A Bhutto and according to that implemented law the death sentence can be given to the PM if this sentence is legal than why court do not give the reference of this particular while proceedings of the cases in the apex court.
Monday, April 4, 2011
Zardari vows to rectify “historical wrong” in Bhutto decision
President Asif Ali Zardari on Monday vowed to rectify the “historical wrong” of the “judicial murder” of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and said it was now the judiciary’s obligation to clear its record.
He was addressing a large gathering here at the mausoleum of the Bhutto family on the 32nd death anniversary of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto in the early hours of Monday.
President Zardari said he had filed a reference and desired the record to be corrected.
“We are not like Cromwell. We are not seeking revenge. We want the history to record that a wrong was committed and it needs to be corrected.”
“There should be no objection to the reference as it is the demand of the people of Pakistan,” Zardari said.
“We do not want a clash of institutions…we want to make institutions work like institutions. That’s why we have sent you a reference to clear the wrong that you had done,” Zardari said.
President Zardari said the judiciary of today was the one for whose independence the people had rendered sacrifices.
“They too (judiciary) had learnt from Zulfikar Ali Bhutto to come out on the streets and fight for their rights,” he said.
He said in one year time the government had successfully transferred all powers to the Parliament.
“We do not believe in making headlines, we prefer in making history with our blood, like the Bhutto family did.”
President Zardari also invited political leaders to sit together to find solutions to economic challenges.
“Let’s find out how to save Pakistan, how to determine its destiny,” he said.
He said he believed in the policy of reconciliation and offered the ‘political actors’ to sit together and find solutions to their problems.
“We have come with a message of peace…talk to us…we are the largest political party …we have a philosophy and the people are with us.”
President Zardari said he still had more tests to undertake and had to hold the next general election.
He said the government restored the judiciary and the constitution and would also hold the general election on time.
“We will hold free, fair and transparent elections and if the people so desire we will return to power, or if they so choose, we will sit in opposition,” he said.
He was addressing a large gathering here at the mausoleum of the Bhutto family on the 32nd death anniversary of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto in the early hours of Monday.
President Zardari said he had filed a reference and desired the record to be corrected.
“We are not like Cromwell. We are not seeking revenge. We want the history to record that a wrong was committed and it needs to be corrected.”
“There should be no objection to the reference as it is the demand of the people of Pakistan,” Zardari said.
“We do not want a clash of institutions…we want to make institutions work like institutions. That’s why we have sent you a reference to clear the wrong that you had done,” Zardari said.
President Zardari said the judiciary of today was the one for whose independence the people had rendered sacrifices.
“They too (judiciary) had learnt from Zulfikar Ali Bhutto to come out on the streets and fight for their rights,” he said.
He said in one year time the government had successfully transferred all powers to the Parliament.
“We do not believe in making headlines, we prefer in making history with our blood, like the Bhutto family did.”
President Zardari also invited political leaders to sit together to find solutions to economic challenges.
“Let’s find out how to save Pakistan, how to determine its destiny,” he said.
He said he believed in the policy of reconciliation and offered the ‘political actors’ to sit together and find solutions to their problems.
“We have come with a message of peace…talk to us…we are the largest political party …we have a philosophy and the people are with us.”
President Zardari said he still had more tests to undertake and had to hold the next general election.
He said the government restored the judiciary and the constitution and would also hold the general election on time.
“We will hold free, fair and transparent elections and if the people so desire we will return to power, or if they so choose, we will sit in opposition,” he said.
32nd death anniversary of Shaheed Z.A Bhutto observed
LARKANA
: The 32nd death anniversary of founder- chairman of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and former prime minister Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was observed here on Monday with great fervour and solemnity.Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP) and PPP (Shaheed Bhutto) separately arranged programmes in this regard.Quran Khawani and Fateha Khawani were held in every corner of the country for the departed soul of Shaheed Z.A. Bhutto.People from all walks of life in their messages on the occasion paid rich tributes to Shaheed Bhutto for his services for the cause of poor and the downtrodden and for the progress and prosperity of the country.
The main death anniversary programme was held at Garhi Khuda Bakhsh Bhutto near here.
On this occasion Quran Khawani was also held at the mazar of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.
In this connection, the Co-Chairman of PPP and President Asif Ali Zardari, Chairman PPP Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani, Punjab Governor Sardar Muhammad Latif Khan Khosa.
Governor Khyber- Pakhtunkhwa Barrister Syed Masood Kausar, Chief Minister Gilgit-Baltistan Syed Mehdi Shah, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Chairman Senate Farooq H. Naek, Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Dr. Firdous Ashiq Awan, Central Information Secretary of PPP Qamar Zaman Kaira, Federal Minister Syed Naveed Qamar, Federal Minister Syed Khursheed Ahmed Shah, Federal Minister Syed Raza Rabbani, other federal ministers, Speaker Sindh Assembly Nisar Ahmed Khuhro, Provincial Ministers also visited the graves of the founder- chairman of PPP Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto. They placed wreath at the graves and offered fateha.
The central leaders, leaders and workers of PPP from all over the country, including Gilgit-Baltistan, Northern Areas, AJK were also among those who placed wreaths and offered fateha on the graves of Shaheed leaders in Garhi Khuda Bakhsh Bhutto.
Besides, Federal Ministers, Senators, MNAs, MPAs belonging to Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Members of the Central Executive Committee (CEC) and the Federal Council (F.C) of PPP also visited the mazars of Shaheed Z.A Bhutto and Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto and offered fateha and laid floral wreaths there.
They also visited the graves of Shaheed benazir’s brothers Shaheed Mir Murtaza Bhutto and Shaheed Mir Shahnawaz Bhutto, laid wreaths there and offered fateha.
President PPP AJK, Central leaders of PPP AJK and other PPP leaders and workers from AJK also visited the mazars of their leaders Shaheed Z.A. Bhutto and Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, laid wreaths and offered fateha on Sunday night.
The central leaders, leaders and workers of PPP from all over the country, including Gilgit- Baltistan, Northern Areas, AJK were also among those who laid wreaths and offered fateha on Shaheed leaders’ graves in Garhi Khuda Bakhsh Bhutto.
Besides, Federal Ministers, Senators, MNAs, MPAs belonging to Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Members of the Central Executive Committee (CEC) and Federal Council (F.C) of PPP also visited the mazars of Shaheed Z.A Bhutto and Shaheed Benazir Bhutto and others and offered fateha and laid wreaths.
Workers and leaders and workers of sister’s organisations of PPP besides Bhutto’s admirers arrived at Garhi Khuda Bakhsh Bhutto from all over the country and laid wreaths and offered fateha at the mazar of their leader. Caravans of people kept flowing in here since Sunday evening to participate in the death anniversary programme and started departing after the programme was over.
The programme of the anniversary started with a Mushaira. The prominent poets from Sindh, Punjab and other parts of the country, paid tribute to Shaheed Z.A. Bhutto in poetic form.
As per past traditions, a meeting of Central Executive Committee (CEC) of PPP was held at President House Naudero on Saturday night, to make future decisions.
Chairman of PPP Bilawal Bhutto Zardari chaired the meeting.
The meeting was attended among others by the President and Co-Chairman of PPP Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani, Central Secretary General Jahangir Badar, Syed Raza Rabbani,Qamar Zaman Kaira, Dr. Firdous Ashiq Awan, Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, Fauzia Wahab, Sherry Rehman, Syed Khursheed Ahmed Shah, Syed Naveed Qamar,Aftab Shahbaan Mirani, President PPP Sindh and Provincial Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Sindh Assembly Speaker Nisar Ahmed Khuhro, President PPP AJK, President PPP of Balochistan Nawabzada Lashkari Khan Raisani, Presidents of PPP NWFP, Balochistan, Punjab, presidents of sister organizations of PPP, MNAs, MPAs and the members of CEC.
The meeting took stock of the prevailing political conditions of the country. Rich tribute was paid to founder chairman of PPP Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and profound confidence was expressed on the leadership of Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.
Rich tributes were also paid to Shaheed chairperson of PPP Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto for the sacrifice of her life only to achieve the rights of the down-trodden and to strengthen the democratic system in the country which is the only way to provide the poor masses with basic facilities in light of her party manifesto.
Peoples Doctors Forum (PDF) Larkana district established free medical camp to provide medical assistance to the participants of the death anniversary.
The Co-chairman of PPP and President Asif Ali Zardari, Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Syed Khursheed Ahmed Shah, Nisar Ahmed Khuhro, Muhammad Ayaz Soomro, Syed Mehdi Shah, Imtiaz Safdar Warraich, and other senior leaders of PPP addressing a public meeting outside of the mazar of Shaheed Bhutto in Garhi Khuda Bakhsh Bhutto late Sunday night, paid homage to his services for the country, for establishment of a democratic order and struggle for the rights of the masses.
They reiterated their pledge to carry forward the mission for which Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto laid down his life.
They also paid rich tributes to Shaheed chairperson of PPP Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto for her great sacrifice only for the survival of the poor people. They added that the present government was established due to the sacrifices of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto and will work for the betterment of poor people in the country.
On this occasion a documentary film was also shown on the life of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, especially his speeches at the United Nations (UN) as well as the mass contact public meetings and his achievements for the development and the people of the country, the historic Simla Agreement through which more than 70000 prisoners of war were freed from the jails of India, the organising of Islamic Summit Conference at Lahore, establishment of Steel Mills and other industries in order to provide job opportunities to the poor people of the country as well as establishing of the historic relations with China, other neighbouring countries as well as the Islamic and European countries.
Meanwhile, the leaders and workers of PPP (Shaheed Bhutto) visited Garhi Khuda Bakhsh Bhutto to offer fateha and laid wreaths on the grave of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. They also visited the graves of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto, Shaheed Mir Murtaza Bhutto and Shaheed Mir Shahnawaz Bhutto and offered fateha.
Later, Chairperson of PPP (Shaheed Bhutto) Ms Ghinwa Bhutto and other central leaders of PPP (SB) also addressed a big public meeting in connection with the 32nd death anniversary of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, in Garhi Khuda Bux Bhutto on Monday.
Provincial Police Officer (PPO) Sindh Fayyaz Ahmed Leghari had established a base camp in Naudero to monitor the security arrangements.
: The 32nd death anniversary of founder- chairman of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and former prime minister Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was observed here on Monday with great fervour and solemnity.Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP) and PPP (Shaheed Bhutto) separately arranged programmes in this regard.Quran Khawani and Fateha Khawani were held in every corner of the country for the departed soul of Shaheed Z.A. Bhutto.People from all walks of life in their messages on the occasion paid rich tributes to Shaheed Bhutto for his services for the cause of poor and the downtrodden and for the progress and prosperity of the country.
The main death anniversary programme was held at Garhi Khuda Bakhsh Bhutto near here.
On this occasion Quran Khawani was also held at the mazar of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.
In this connection, the Co-Chairman of PPP and President Asif Ali Zardari, Chairman PPP Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani, Punjab Governor Sardar Muhammad Latif Khan Khosa.
Governor Khyber- Pakhtunkhwa Barrister Syed Masood Kausar, Chief Minister Gilgit-Baltistan Syed Mehdi Shah, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Chairman Senate Farooq H. Naek, Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Dr. Firdous Ashiq Awan, Central Information Secretary of PPP Qamar Zaman Kaira, Federal Minister Syed Naveed Qamar, Federal Minister Syed Khursheed Ahmed Shah, Federal Minister Syed Raza Rabbani, other federal ministers, Speaker Sindh Assembly Nisar Ahmed Khuhro, Provincial Ministers also visited the graves of the founder- chairman of PPP Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto. They placed wreath at the graves and offered fateha.
The central leaders, leaders and workers of PPP from all over the country, including Gilgit-Baltistan, Northern Areas, AJK were also among those who placed wreaths and offered fateha on the graves of Shaheed leaders in Garhi Khuda Bakhsh Bhutto.
Besides, Federal Ministers, Senators, MNAs, MPAs belonging to Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Members of the Central Executive Committee (CEC) and the Federal Council (F.C) of PPP also visited the mazars of Shaheed Z.A Bhutto and Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto and offered fateha and laid floral wreaths there.
They also visited the graves of Shaheed benazir’s brothers Shaheed Mir Murtaza Bhutto and Shaheed Mir Shahnawaz Bhutto, laid wreaths there and offered fateha.
President PPP AJK, Central leaders of PPP AJK and other PPP leaders and workers from AJK also visited the mazars of their leaders Shaheed Z.A. Bhutto and Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, laid wreaths and offered fateha on Sunday night.
The central leaders, leaders and workers of PPP from all over the country, including Gilgit- Baltistan, Northern Areas, AJK were also among those who laid wreaths and offered fateha on Shaheed leaders’ graves in Garhi Khuda Bakhsh Bhutto.
Besides, Federal Ministers, Senators, MNAs, MPAs belonging to Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Members of the Central Executive Committee (CEC) and Federal Council (F.C) of PPP also visited the mazars of Shaheed Z.A Bhutto and Shaheed Benazir Bhutto and others and offered fateha and laid wreaths.
Workers and leaders and workers of sister’s organisations of PPP besides Bhutto’s admirers arrived at Garhi Khuda Bakhsh Bhutto from all over the country and laid wreaths and offered fateha at the mazar of their leader. Caravans of people kept flowing in here since Sunday evening to participate in the death anniversary programme and started departing after the programme was over.
The programme of the anniversary started with a Mushaira. The prominent poets from Sindh, Punjab and other parts of the country, paid tribute to Shaheed Z.A. Bhutto in poetic form.
As per past traditions, a meeting of Central Executive Committee (CEC) of PPP was held at President House Naudero on Saturday night, to make future decisions.
Chairman of PPP Bilawal Bhutto Zardari chaired the meeting.
The meeting was attended among others by the President and Co-Chairman of PPP Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani, Central Secretary General Jahangir Badar, Syed Raza Rabbani,Qamar Zaman Kaira, Dr. Firdous Ashiq Awan, Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, Fauzia Wahab, Sherry Rehman, Syed Khursheed Ahmed Shah, Syed Naveed Qamar,Aftab Shahbaan Mirani, President PPP Sindh and Provincial Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Sindh Assembly Speaker Nisar Ahmed Khuhro, President PPP AJK, President PPP of Balochistan Nawabzada Lashkari Khan Raisani, Presidents of PPP NWFP, Balochistan, Punjab, presidents of sister organizations of PPP, MNAs, MPAs and the members of CEC.
The meeting took stock of the prevailing political conditions of the country. Rich tribute was paid to founder chairman of PPP Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and profound confidence was expressed on the leadership of Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.
Rich tributes were also paid to Shaheed chairperson of PPP Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto for the sacrifice of her life only to achieve the rights of the down-trodden and to strengthen the democratic system in the country which is the only way to provide the poor masses with basic facilities in light of her party manifesto.
Peoples Doctors Forum (PDF) Larkana district established free medical camp to provide medical assistance to the participants of the death anniversary.
The Co-chairman of PPP and President Asif Ali Zardari, Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Syed Khursheed Ahmed Shah, Nisar Ahmed Khuhro, Muhammad Ayaz Soomro, Syed Mehdi Shah, Imtiaz Safdar Warraich, and other senior leaders of PPP addressing a public meeting outside of the mazar of Shaheed Bhutto in Garhi Khuda Bakhsh Bhutto late Sunday night, paid homage to his services for the country, for establishment of a democratic order and struggle for the rights of the masses.
They reiterated their pledge to carry forward the mission for which Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto laid down his life.
They also paid rich tributes to Shaheed chairperson of PPP Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto for her great sacrifice only for the survival of the poor people. They added that the present government was established due to the sacrifices of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto and will work for the betterment of poor people in the country.
On this occasion a documentary film was also shown on the life of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, especially his speeches at the United Nations (UN) as well as the mass contact public meetings and his achievements for the development and the people of the country, the historic Simla Agreement through which more than 70000 prisoners of war were freed from the jails of India, the organising of Islamic Summit Conference at Lahore, establishment of Steel Mills and other industries in order to provide job opportunities to the poor people of the country as well as establishing of the historic relations with China, other neighbouring countries as well as the Islamic and European countries.
Meanwhile, the leaders and workers of PPP (Shaheed Bhutto) visited Garhi Khuda Bakhsh Bhutto to offer fateha and laid wreaths on the grave of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. They also visited the graves of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto, Shaheed Mir Murtaza Bhutto and Shaheed Mir Shahnawaz Bhutto and offered fateha.
Later, Chairperson of PPP (Shaheed Bhutto) Ms Ghinwa Bhutto and other central leaders of PPP (SB) also addressed a big public meeting in connection with the 32nd death anniversary of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, in Garhi Khuda Bux Bhutto on Monday.
Provincial Police Officer (PPO) Sindh Fayyaz Ahmed Leghari had established a base camp in Naudero to monitor the security arrangements.
Bhutto’s 32nd death anniversary today
The 32nd death anniversary of PPP founder Zulfikar Ali Bhutto observed across the country today (Monday).
The main ceremony in connection with Bhutto’s death anniversary will be held in Garhi Khuda Bakhsh, where thousands of PPP workers and leaders have started gathering. Every street of Garhi Khuda Bakhsh has been decorated with PPP flags and banners inscribed with slogans of ‘Jeay Bhutto’ and ‘Zinda Hai BB Zinda Hai’.
Sindh Home Minister Zulfiqar Mirza has directed the Sindh Inspector General of Police (IGP) to ensure foolproof security in Garhi Khuda Bakhsh during Bhutto’s death anniversary. The Sindh government has announced a public holiday today.
President Asif Ali Zardari, accompanied by PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, on Sunday visited the ancestral graveyard of the Bhutto family. He offered fateha and laid wreaths at the graves of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Benazir Bhutto, Murtaza Bhutto and Shahnawaz Bhutto.
“Bhutto is the symbol of courage, he struggled for the democracy in Pakistan and sacrificed his life for the same cause,” Senate chairman Farooq H Naek said after reaching Garhi Khuda Bux.
A Sindh government official said about 6,000 policemen had been deployed for vigilance, and more than 500 Rangers personnel would perform their duties. The official said scanners had been installed at the entry point and visitors were being frisked if required. “Around 40 acres of land has been allocated for parking of 10,000 vehicles about four to six km away from the public gathering,” he added.
The daylong ceremonies in Garhi Khuda Bux will start with Quran Khawani at the mausoleum of the PPP founder today morning. In Islamabad, a ceremony will be held at the PPP Central Secretariat to observe the death anniversary of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. The ceremony will start with Quran Khawani and prominent PPP leaders will highlight achievements and services of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto in their speeches.
All arrangements have been completed to observe the death anniversary of the PPP founder at Jinnah Park Rawalpindi (Old jail, where Bhutto was hanged) today at 10am. The local leadership will attend the ceremony and highlight services of Bhutto.
Various programmes including seminars and workers convention will be organised in different parts of the country to pay tribute to the PPP founder. Radio Pakistan and Pakistan Television have also made arrangements for special transmission. The special transmission will highlight life, struggle, services and revolutionary achievements of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.
The Directorate of Film and Publication (DFP) of Press Information Department (PID) has prepared volumes of speeches of President Asif Ali Zardari in English, Sindhi and Urdu languages for distribution on the occasion of death anniversary of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto in Naudero.
A three-member delegation of the MQM will also visit Garhi Khuda Bux on the death anniversary of the PPP founder.
Separately, talking to reporters at Sukkur Airport, Information Minister Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan said the Bhutto legacy was an asset of the PPP. She said the government needed the support and cooperation of all political parties on all national issues.
The minister said Bhuttoism was not confined to any single political party because the PPP founder taught the art of politicking to political parties, which were now carrying forward his philosophy.
Talking to reporters in Naudero, Interior Minister Rehman Malik said his party was working for welfare of the poor. He assured PPP workers that their problems would soon be resolved. Malik said politics of PPP was the provision of basic needs to the people, adding coming days would be dedicated to the party workers.
He said the investigation report on Benazir’s murder had been prepared and its details would be disclosed at the meeting of Central Executive Council (CEC). Paying rich tribute to Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto, Rehman Malik pledged to do everything to achieve the mission of the PPP leadership.
Talking to the media in Larkana, PPP Secretary Information Qamar Zaman Kaira said the execution of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was a ‘historic crime’ and nobody in the country had accepted the verdict of the case as a correct decision.
He said filing a reference in the Supreme Court was necessary to remove stigma from the judicial history as everyone considered the execution a ‘judicial murder’. “Bhutto was not only the leader of Pakistan and Islamic Ummah, but also of the entire third world,” he added.
The main ceremony in connection with Bhutto’s death anniversary will be held in Garhi Khuda Bakhsh, where thousands of PPP workers and leaders have started gathering. Every street of Garhi Khuda Bakhsh has been decorated with PPP flags and banners inscribed with slogans of ‘Jeay Bhutto’ and ‘Zinda Hai BB Zinda Hai’.
Sindh Home Minister Zulfiqar Mirza has directed the Sindh Inspector General of Police (IGP) to ensure foolproof security in Garhi Khuda Bakhsh during Bhutto’s death anniversary. The Sindh government has announced a public holiday today.
President Asif Ali Zardari, accompanied by PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, on Sunday visited the ancestral graveyard of the Bhutto family. He offered fateha and laid wreaths at the graves of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Benazir Bhutto, Murtaza Bhutto and Shahnawaz Bhutto.
“Bhutto is the symbol of courage, he struggled for the democracy in Pakistan and sacrificed his life for the same cause,” Senate chairman Farooq H Naek said after reaching Garhi Khuda Bux.
A Sindh government official said about 6,000 policemen had been deployed for vigilance, and more than 500 Rangers personnel would perform their duties. The official said scanners had been installed at the entry point and visitors were being frisked if required. “Around 40 acres of land has been allocated for parking of 10,000 vehicles about four to six km away from the public gathering,” he added.
The daylong ceremonies in Garhi Khuda Bux will start with Quran Khawani at the mausoleum of the PPP founder today morning. In Islamabad, a ceremony will be held at the PPP Central Secretariat to observe the death anniversary of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. The ceremony will start with Quran Khawani and prominent PPP leaders will highlight achievements and services of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto in their speeches.
All arrangements have been completed to observe the death anniversary of the PPP founder at Jinnah Park Rawalpindi (Old jail, where Bhutto was hanged) today at 10am. The local leadership will attend the ceremony and highlight services of Bhutto.
Various programmes including seminars and workers convention will be organised in different parts of the country to pay tribute to the PPP founder. Radio Pakistan and Pakistan Television have also made arrangements for special transmission. The special transmission will highlight life, struggle, services and revolutionary achievements of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.
The Directorate of Film and Publication (DFP) of Press Information Department (PID) has prepared volumes of speeches of President Asif Ali Zardari in English, Sindhi and Urdu languages for distribution on the occasion of death anniversary of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto in Naudero.
A three-member delegation of the MQM will also visit Garhi Khuda Bux on the death anniversary of the PPP founder.
Separately, talking to reporters at Sukkur Airport, Information Minister Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan said the Bhutto legacy was an asset of the PPP. She said the government needed the support and cooperation of all political parties on all national issues.
The minister said Bhuttoism was not confined to any single political party because the PPP founder taught the art of politicking to political parties, which were now carrying forward his philosophy.
Talking to reporters in Naudero, Interior Minister Rehman Malik said his party was working for welfare of the poor. He assured PPP workers that their problems would soon be resolved. Malik said politics of PPP was the provision of basic needs to the people, adding coming days would be dedicated to the party workers.
He said the investigation report on Benazir’s murder had been prepared and its details would be disclosed at the meeting of Central Executive Council (CEC). Paying rich tribute to Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto, Rehman Malik pledged to do everything to achieve the mission of the PPP leadership.
Talking to the media in Larkana, PPP Secretary Information Qamar Zaman Kaira said the execution of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was a ‘historic crime’ and nobody in the country had accepted the verdict of the case as a correct decision.
He said filing a reference in the Supreme Court was necessary to remove stigma from the judicial history as everyone considered the execution a ‘judicial murder’. “Bhutto was not only the leader of Pakistan and Islamic Ummah, but also of the entire third world,” he added.
Salute To Zulfikar Ali Bhutto
M WAQAR
Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was executed on April 4, 1979, a darkest day in the history of Pakistan. Bhutto wrote a book from his death cell, Titled "If I am assassinated," its last pages contained a quote from Russian author Nikolai Dostoevsky: "Man's dearest possession is his life, and since it is given to him to live but once, he must so live as not to be scared with the shame of a cowardly and trivial past, so as not to be tortured for years without purpose, that dying he can say, 'All my life and my strength were given to the first cause in the world - the liberation of mankind.' " As death stared the Z.A Bhutto in the face, he stared back. His past has no shame of cowardice. His daughter, too, gave her life in courage. "If India builds the bomb we will eat grass or leaves, we will go hungry. But we will get one of our own." This statement by Zulfiar Ali Bhutto should open up our eyes and bring back the passion of patriotism, unity and love for each others for the sake of Pakistan. I would like to express that this man is and was hero of Pakistan. Historians, Retired Judges of the Superior Courts and eminent lawyers have now unanimously admitted that Mr. Z.A Bhutto was hanged by a military dictator General Zia-Ul Haq by orchestrating a judicial trial to get rid of a popular leader. He gave Pakistan its first constitution, nuclear programme, held peace talks with India and brought 90,000 POW who were in Indian prison and were going to face war crimes. He liberated the small farmers and peasants from the repression and cruelty of big landlords and banished the jagirdari and sardari system declaring that all citizens are born equal and must live with equal rights. Z.A Bhutto was a Legend, who lived and died like a hero with courage, determination and devotion to his principles, when cruel dictator Zia was going to kill him, Z.A Bhutto could sign few papers and could live in exile but he was a real man, he was not a coward. He too could have made a deal and lived to fight another day; but only great men with principles sacrifice their life for their cause. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto earned everlasting fame in the pantheon of leaders from the Third World in the struggle against colonialism and imperialism. He had the privilege of interacting with many of those leaders who played a great role in the epic struggle for national independence in the 20th Century including Mao Tse Tung, Soekarno, Chou-en Lai, and Gamal Abdel Nasser. He belonged to a category of anti-imperialist leaders who included Jamal Nasir of Egypt and Jawahir Lal Nehru of India. He was a brilliant Diplomat who negotiated some of Pakistan's most enduring diplomatic policies as well as bargaining from a position of weakness against Indira Gandhi in Simla.
He was a great diplomat; there is a story that the American President John F. Kennedy was much impressed with then Foreign Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. When they met, Kennedy walked with him in the Rose Garden and said, "Bhutto, if you were an American, you would be in my Cabinet". To which Zulfikar Ali Bhutto smilingly replied, "No, Mr. President. If I were an American, you would be in my cabinet". A Pan Islamic socialist who weakened the Feudal and tribal system.. He also pushed through Pakistan's nuclear programme despite enormous International pressure. He was also a brilliant politician whose popularity and powerful speeches impressed even his worst opponents. It took a great man to get Pakistan out of the 71 trauma.
A dynamic leader, who stood up against imperialism and looked to China and other progressive countries for an alliance. When he was Prime Minister, the country prospered and was set on a course of industrial and agricultural development. He gained popularity in villages and poor industrial areas. Bhutto was the only true leader in our history who gave us constitution, identity in international relations. You will be surprised to know when Bhutto became as Foreign Minister, at that time; we did not have ambassador level relations with so many big countries of the world like Indonesia etc. He empowers the poor of his country. Such people like Z.A BHUTTO are born rarely, who will forget his capabilities as an extempore speaker, as an writer, as an diplomat, as an leader and above all as lover of poor. On the day of his martyrdom his opponents called him as a culprit but same are now calling him as an innocent. The simple reason for this is that Zia tried his best to create divisions among people in order to finish the popularity of Bhutto. The irony is all those who hatched conspiracy against him are no more in this mortal world, all of them died a horrible death. Bhutto was the greatest leader we can think in the modern history. In his book "If I Am Assassinated", Bhutto clearly mentions his fear of 120 million Pakistanis under a defenseless sky in comparison to a nuclear India. What a vision! India could have swallowed Pakistan long ago if thanks to Bhutto we were not an atomic power. On the economic front Bhutto vision for nationalization was that Pakistanis will work hard like Chinese, but here Pakistanis failed him. The labor and the management of nationalized industry had no interest to take advantage of this opportunity. Using this as a golden opportunity, the industrialists, bureaucrats, and above all corrupt army declared him as an unsuccessful leader. Bhutto loved poor and poor loved Bhutto. This relationship is ever lasting. The first leader who legislated labor laws and enforced in Pakistan and nobody could do it till now. This is the reason of his popularity among labors. He tried to unite the Islamic world. The Pakistan is still under developing country because Bhutto is not alive. Z.A Bhutto is the first person in Pakistan who has given the voice to the common people. Z.A Bhutto was great charismatic leader, man of masses, top class negotiator, excellent communicator, a visionary, known for mercurial brilliance, wit and a highly well read person. He attracted mammoth crowds where ever he addressed public meetings even in remote regions of the country. He was a man of masses because of his personal charm and charisma and the one who spoke in the language of workers, laborers, peasants and the people in the streets. He would make the people feel that he was one of them, understood them, had solutions to their problems and give them roti, kapra aur makan. He might have given all these things to them if his government had not become target of the establishment's conspiracies. ZA Bhutto's Powerful Political Legacy Cannot be eliminated. In no time Bhutto had made a tremendous impact all around. As Minister for Fuel and Power, he had diverse explorers tapping into Pakistan's underground hidden energy resources. For the first time Russians were involved in oil and gas exploration. His time as Minister for Science and Technology was well spent. He could measure the advancements made by India in the atomic field. I can't help grieving the tragic death of a Hero who paid with his life to set an ultimate example of principled politics. I hope we honor Shaheed Bhutto by giving to the weak and less fortunate people of Pakistan the gift of unconditional empowerment through democracy and moral governance and not trade his dream for our illusions. Bourgeois battled Bhutto's populist economic and political enforcement, the bourgeois and the petty-bourgeois became ready instruments in carrying out their social propaganda against Bhutto. He was the man behind introducing democracy in the country by kicking out the dictatorial rule and finally gave a consensus constitution of 1973 with guarantees to basic human rights under the supremacy of parliament. Cruel dictators like Zia and Musharraf are responsible for bringing fundamentalists into the corridor of power, Mush, who is now trumping against them just an eye wash. Political Leaders must posses' qualities of power, vision, ethics, courage, knowledge, decision making, integrity, enthusiasms and devotion and should have principles, Z.A BHUTTO had all those qualities. Mr. Bhutto lived consciously to make history and to leave a legacy in the form of the development of his nation. He is right credited with saving Pakistan at the darkest moment of its history, as French President Giscardd' Estaing said he was the man,'' who incarnated Pakistan at a dramatic hour of its history''. Z A BHUTTO was indeed a great leader, a leader we must salute today; who gave voice to the voiceless and helped them shape their own destiny. It was under his leadership that every Pakistani given the right to passport. Education was nationalized and made available to every child. Scores of Universities were built to turn the children of the discriminated and downtrodden into lawyers, doctors and engineers liberating them from a destiny of backwardness. Bhutto pushed politics out of the posh drawing rooms into real Pakistan-into the muddy lanes and villages of the poor. The ever-lasting contribution of Bhutto was to raise the consciousness of the people for democracy. He awakened the masses, making them realize they were the legitimate fountainhead of political power. He enlightened the peasants, the industrial workers, the students, the women and the rest of the common people of their importance and of their right of franchise, which is the definite means of bringing changes and improvement in the lives of the common people. He deeply cherished democracy and democratic values and in the end gave his life for the cause of freedom. In the case of Pakistan, he viewed military rule as a negation of the very genesis of the country that came into being as a result of a democratic process and a vote. Today as the Nation pays tribute to one of its greatest sons; it is destined to move forward in the spirit of Federalism, Democracy, Autonomy and Egalitarianism which he lit through his example of courage in the defense of principles and ideals. Z.A BHUTTO was a people leader, a legend and a poet and he remained so till the last breath in his body. He was a true revolutionary; his revolution was against imperialism, against bourgeois. He was a charismatic leader and his charisma still rules the nation. Z.A Bhutto ruled the hearts of people when he was alive and till date he rules their hearts. Z.A Bhutto was a principled friend to the poor, downtrodden and oppressed. He was fearless in his beliefs and refused to bow before any man or power other than the Almighty. His contributions to an impregnable Pakistan are seen in the Kamra Aeronautical factory, Heavy Mechanical Complex at Taxila, modernization of Karachi Shipyard, creation of precision engineering works, Pakistan Steel Mills, Port Qasim, Pakistan Automobile Corporation to name a few. By signing the Simla Accord of 1972 he negotiated longest peace between India and Pakistan. His social reforms laid the foundation of an egalitarian society, his non-aligned foreign policy earned Pakistan respect in the comity of nations. He lifted the nation drowning in a sea of despair to Himalayan heights. The death cell in which his killers kept him failed to break his will or his determination to challenge military rule and stand up as the leader of the people. Bhutto was a modernizer and saw nationalism as the key to unity. He rejected fanaticism. He gave pride to the poor. As leader of the Third World he spoke boldly against racism, colonialism and imperialism. He fearlessly defended the right of nations to independence. When the 1973 Ramadan War broke out, he sent Pakistan's military to defend the borders of the Muslim countries including the Golan Heights of Syria. Bhutto's short life of fifty years was spent in the service of many international, regional and national causes. Today Pakistan is at the crossroads. Its policies relating to Nuclear, Taliban, India, Militancy, Religious Parties, Democracy and Economy are in shambles. Shaheed Bhutto believed that the army could protect its institutional competence by keeping out of politics. He said, "Those soldiers who leave the barracks to move into Government mansions lose wars and become prisoners of war as happened in 1971; his words reverberate as a warning and a guide to the country to save its honor, respect, pride and position by reverting to the golden principles that gave it birth. April 4 falls at a time when Pakistan is faced with a critical situation. The dark shadow of military dictatorship clouds the political horizon and spawns fissiparous tendencies striking at the solidarity of the country. Rocket launchers and bomb blasts kill innocents while the military is involved in operations against its own people. The rise of the suicide bomber and armed struggle is reminiscent of an earlier military dictatorship. The tyranny of General Zia's military rule led to the Kalashnikov culture where young men picked up automatic weapons. That culture has reasserted itself under the military dictatorship of General Musharraf. Except that the weapons are more dangerous than the Kalashnikovs of yesterday. Every time a General ruled Pakistan, innocent people were being killed. Today many people in Pakistan must be scared as Mr. Zardari is shaking hands with MQM, let's not forget that Mr. Bhutto and Benazir were killed by two presidents,who supported MQM.As Asfand Wali Khan has some reservations about MQM,I agree with him. Z.A Bhutto was born in 1928. He was martyred in 1979. Yet he lives in the hearts and minds of the people still shining like a star that brightens the sky motivating those caught in the prisons of oppression. No doubt, the age of Bhutto was an age of revolution. At the time of his over throw; Bhutto was emerging as a spokesman of the world of Islam and the leader of the third world. Although his life and political career were cruelly terminated, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto will always be remembered as one of the great leaders who took part in the liberation of the third world from the yoke of Imperialism and Neo Colonialism during the twentieth century. "It is better to live like a lion for one day than to live like a jackal for a thousand." Z.A.BHUTTO''.
Long Live Bhuttoism!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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