The first democratically elected Prime Minister of Pakistan Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto will be remembered forever for his contribution to democratic norms, giving nation a unanimous 1973 constitution and providing respect and honour to the commonman. The nation will celebrate 84th birth anniversary of founder Chairman of Pakistan Peoples Party and former Prime Minister on January 5, with a renewed pledge to work for solidarity and strengthening democratic institutions. Bhutto was born on January 5, 1928.
Zulfikar Ali Bhutto laid the foundation-stone of democratic process in the county with the formation of Pakistan Peoples Party on November 30, 1967.
Besides giving the nation a consensus Constitution, passed unanimously by the National Assembly on April 12, 1973, it was the credit of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto to make the defence of the country invincible through initiating nuclear programme.
Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto will also be remembered for his struggle for the rights of poor masses as he gave the conscious to the common man to raise voice for his rights including the right to vote.
Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was the only son of Sir Shah Nawaz Bhutto. He completed his early education from Bombay’s Cathedral High School and in 1947, he joined the University of Southern California, and later the University of California at Berkeley in June 1949.
After completing his degree with honors in Political Science at Berkeley in June 1950, he got admission in Oxford University.
Bhutto married to Nusrat Isphahani on September 8, 1951 and his first child, was former Prime Minister of Pakistan Benazir Bhutto, the first women prime minister of the Muslim World.
Zulfikar Ali Bhutto launched Pakistan Peoples Party and in the general elections held in December 1970, the party won with vast majority in West Pakistan. Following the 1971 war and the separation of East Pakistan, Yahya Khan resigned and Bhutto took over as President on December 20, 1971. He took many practical measures to revive the honour, dignity and respect of commonman in the country.
After the National Assembly passed the 1973 Constitution, Bhutto was sworn-in as the Prime Minister on August 14, 1973
Besides starting major development projects, Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto made sincere efforts to host second Islamic Summit in Lahore on February 22, 1974.
General elections were held on March 7, 1977. The PPP emerged as the victorious but at the behest of General Ziaul Haq, Pakistan National Alliance, a political alliance of rightist forces accused government of so-called rigging in the elections.
Negotiations with PNA resumed and an Agreement was reached on June 8, 1977 for holding fresh elections on October 8, 1977. But on July 5, 1977 Chief of Army Staff General Ziaul Haq imposed Martial Law, dissolved the National Assembly, the Senate and provincial assemblies and held Constitution in abeyance.
Following a political crisis created by some elements for their vested interest, Zulfikar Bhutto was imprisoned by General Zia-ul-Haq.
On April 04, 1979, former Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was hanged, after the Supreme Court upheld the death sentence passed by the Lahore High Court.
Besides taking reforms in different fields, Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto had many achievements to his credit including lifting of Martial Law on April 21, 1972, inauguration of Pakistan’s first Nuclear Power Plant at Karachi on November 28, 1972, establishment of Port Qasim Authority on June 27, 1973, starting of identity Cards for Citizens on July 28, 1973, agreement for repatriation of 93,000 prisoners of war from India on August 28, 1973, foundation Stone laying of Pakistan Steel Mill on December 30, 1973, establishment of Allama Iqbal Open University on May 21, 1974 and holding Pakistan’s first Seerat Conference on March 03, 1976.
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