Tuesday, December 27, 2016
#SalamBenazir - Bilawal Bhutto - Terrorists are being harbored today
PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari while addressing the charged crowd at Gari Khuda Bakhsh lamented that the terrorists are being harbored today. He said that the vision of Benazir Bhutto is required more today than before, reported 24 News.
“Mian Sahib! you have supporters of terrorists in your cabinet,” he said.
“Do you think that your minister will be grieved by Hakeemullah Mehsud’s death and i will remain silent? Do you think that your brother would ask the terrorists not to target only them and i will remain silent?,” asked Bilawal Bhutto.
Bilawal said that he believes in democratic accountability. He said that he put forward four demands but the government never listened to him.
“You are hell bent to promote your own interests through politics. You can salvage the honor of the country only through Benazir’s vision,” he said.
Bilawal reached out to Baloch, Pashtun, Sindhi and Punjabi voters separately and sought their help in avenging the death his late mother Benazir Bhutto.
He said that he will go to the country and stage protests to fulfil his four demands. He sought help of the people to raise voice for the four demands. He said that he will topple the rule of Takht-e-Lahore.
https://channel24.pk/breaking-news/2016/12/27/live-terrorists-harbored-today-laments-bilawal-bhutto/
عوام تیار ہو جائیں، جاتی امراء کی بادشاہت ختم کرنے کیلئے نکل رہا ہوں: بلاول بھٹو
گڑھی خدا بخش میں شہید محترمہ بینظیر بھٹو کی برسی کے موقع پر جلسہ عام سے خطاب کرتے ہوئے پی پی پی کے چیئرمین نے کہا کہ میاں صاحب آپ چاہتے ہیں کہ آپ کا وزیر حکیم اللہ محسود پر آنسو بہائے اور میں چپ رہوں، آپ کا بھائی دہشت گردوں سے اپیلیں کرتا پھرے کہ ہمیں نہ ماروں اور میں چپ رہوں، ملک عالمی تنہائی میں چلا جائے اور میں چپ رہوں، آپ سی پیک متنازعہ بنا دیں اور میں چپ رہوں، آپ مودی سے دوستی کریں اور میں چپ رہوں، نہیں میں چپ نہیں رہوں گا۔
لاڑکانہ: پاکستان پیپلز پارٹی کے چیئرمین بلاول بھٹو زرداری کا کہنا ہے کہ کارکن ایک اور لڑائی کے لیے تیار ہوجائیں کیونکہ ہمیں سیاسی لانگ مارچ کی تیاری شروع کرنی ہے۔اپنے مطالبات منوانے کیلئے پورے پاکستان کا دورہ کروں گا اور ہر صوبے اور شہر میں جاﺅں گا، عوام تیار ہو جائیں کیونکہ غاصبوں کا قبضہ اور جاتی امراء کی بادشاہت ختم کرنے کیلئے نکل رہا ہوں، پاکستان میں کسی سے پوچھیں کہ وزیراعظم کون ہے تو کہا جاتا ہے ”پانامہ شریف“، میاں نواز شریف کے تو اسکینڈل ہی اسکینڈل ہیں اور ان کے ذاتی مفاد کے باعث پاکستان کے مفادات خطرے میں ہیں۔ تفصیلات کے مطابق گڑھی خدا بخش میں جلسہ عام سے خطاب کرتے ہوئے بلاول بھٹو زرداری نے کہا کہ اس دنیا میں روز لاکھوں لوگ پیدا ہوتے ہیں اور لاکھوں لوگ جاتے ہیں مگر کچھ لوگ صرف پیدا ہوتے ہیں اور مرا نہیں کرتے، ان کی سوچ، ان کی فکر، ان کی بہادری، کارنامے اور جرات زندہ رہتی ہے، اس لئے ہم کہتے ہیں کہ ذوالفقار علی بھٹو ناصرف تاریخ میں زندہ ہیں بلکہ لوگوں کے دلوں میں آج بھی زندہ ہیں، وہ مر کر بھی امر ہو گئے ہیں اور کچھ لوگ زندہ رہ کر بھی مردہ لاشوں کی طرح ہوتے ہیں، ہم اپنے شہیدوں کے دن انہیں خراج عقیدت پیش کرنے کیلئے مناتے ہیں اور ان سے عہد کرنے کیلئے مناتے ہیں کہ ہم ان کی سوچ فکر اور ویژن پر عمل کریں گے، لیکن کچھ لوگ ہمیں ماضی پرست کہتے ہیں، میں آج آپ سے سوال کرتا ہوں کیا پاکستان پیپلز پارٹی جن مسائل کے حل کیلئے بنائی گئی تھی کیا وہ حل ہوگئے ہیں؟ کیا شہید ذوالفقار علی بھٹو اور شہید محترمہ بے نظیر بھٹو نے جن مقصد کیلئے جانوں کے نذرانے پیش کئے تھے، کیا وہ حاصل کر لئے گئے ہیں ؟ شہید ذوالفقار علی بھٹو، شہید بینظیر بھٹو اور پاکستان پیپلز پارٹی آج کے عہد، آج کی سیاست، آج کی معیشت اور مسائل کے حل سے اتنی ہی مطابقت رکھتے ہیں جتنی اس وقت رکھتے تھے۔
انہوں نے کہا کہ ضیاء الحق نے جب ذوالفقار علی بھٹو کو گرفتار کیا تو ان کی 24 سالہ بیٹی بینظیر بھٹو شہید نے اپنے باپ، اپنے ملک، جمہویت اور لوگوں کی آس و امید کو بچانے نکلی، ان کو سکھر جیل میں سخت گرمی میں قید تنہائی میں رکھا گیا، کہ ایک نہتی سی لڑکی، ایک نہتی سی لڑکی گر جائے گی، ٹوٹ جائے گی، ڈر جائے گی، مگر وہ لڑتی رہی، لڑتی رہی اور ثابت کر دیا کہ ”ڈرتے ہیں بندوقوں والے ایک نہتی لڑکی سے“ یوں تو انسانی تاریخ بہادر خواتین کی داستانوں سے بھری پڑی ہے مگر جس کے باپ کو پھانسی دیدی جائے، جس کے بھائیوں کو قتل کر دیا جائے، جس کی ماں کو لاٹھیاں مار مار کر زخمی کر دیا جائے، جس کے خاوند کو گیارہ سال جیل میں رکھا جائے، ان کے ساتھیوں اور جانثاروں کو پھانسی دیدی جائے، سینکڑوں جیالوں کو کوڑے مارے جائیں، ہزاروں کارکنوں کو جیل میں رکھا جائے، وہ ہر ظلم کے سامنے پہاڑ کی طرح ڈٹی رہی ہو اور اس نے ہار نہ مانی ہو، اپنے ملک کے مظلوموں کا ساتھ نہ چھوڑا ہو، اپنے لوگوں کی امید نہ چھوڑی ہو، وہ صرف اور صرف اسلامی دنیا کی پہلی منتخب خاتون وزیراعظم شہید بینظیر بھٹو ہی ہو سکتی ہیں۔
بلاول بھٹو کا کہنا تھا کہ ان کی 35 سالہ سیاسی زندگی میں صرف 5 سال اقتدار تھا اور 30 سال لڑائی تھی اور جدوجہد تھی لیکن انہوں نے ہار نہیں مانی، وہ کبھی ضیاء الحق کے خلاف لڑیں تو کبھی ان کی باقیات کے خلاف، اور کبھی ان کی ذہنیت کے خلاف لڑیں۔ یاد ہے کہ جیل میں بی بی شہید کی 25 ویں سالگرہ پر شہید بھٹو نے اپنی پیاری بیٹی سے کہا تھا، ”شہید بی بی بینظیر اپنا ہاتھ آگے کرو، میں آج آپ کو ایک بہترین تحفہ دینا چاہتا ہوں، بی بی نے ہاتھ آگے کیا تو ذوالفقار علی بھٹو نے کہا کہ آج میں آپ کے ہاتھ میں اس ملک کے غریبوں کا ہاتھ تحفے میں دیتا ہوں، تم کبھی بھی ان کو نہیں چھوڑنا، یہ کبھی بھی تمہیں نہیں چھوڑیں گے اور پھر دنیا نے دیکھا کہ وہ زندہ رہیں تو عوام کیلئے، شہید ہوئیں تو عوام کیلئے، 18 اکتوبر کے حملے کے بعد کسی کو کوئی شک رہ گیا تھا کہ یہ شہید محترمہ بے نظیر بھٹو کو نہیں مارنا چاہتے تھے ؟ مگر وہ بہادر باپ کی بہادر بیٹی تھی، ڈری نہیں، 72 دن موت ان کے آگے آگے بھاگ رہی تھی اور وہ موت کے پیچھے پیچھے بھاگ رہی تھیں، آخر لڑتے لڑتے جام شہادت نوش کیا لیکن ہار نہیں مانی۔
بلاول بھٹو زرداری نے کہا کہ میں آپ سب سے پوچھتا ہوں کیا بی بی شہید نے جس سوچ کے خلاف جنگ لڑی تھی، اس سے مکمل چھٹکارا مل گیا ہے؟ آج بھی اسی کی سیاہ وراثت یعنی تخت جاتی امراء کی بادشاہت ہے، جن دہشت گردوں کے خلاف انہوں نے لڑائی لڑی کیا وہ ختم ہوگئے؟ بالکل نہیں، آج بھی ان کو پناہ مل رہی ہے، آج بھی ہمارے بچے، بچیاں، عورتیں، مرد اور سیکیورٹی فورسز کے جوان ان کے ہاتھوں شہید ہو رہے ہیں، اس لئے میں کہتا ہوں کہ بی بی شہید کے ویژن کی جتنی ضرورت کل تھی اس سے بڑھ کر آج ہے، میرے ملک کے عظیم محنت کشوں! محترمہ کی شہادت کے بعد اس ملک کو بہت ساری مشکلات نے گھیرا تھا، ایک طرف ملک ٹوٹنے کے قریب تھا اور دوسری جانب پارٹی برباد ہونے لگی، صدرزرداری نے ایک ہی نعرہ کے ساتھ دونوں کو بچایا، کھپے کھپے، پاکستان کھپے۔ میرے عظیم پاکستانیو! آپ نے اب پارٹی کا پرچم مجھے بھی دیا ہے اور مجھے پتہ ہے کہ یہ آسان نہیں ہے، یہ پھولوں کی سیج نہیں ہے، مجھے میری اور پارٹی کی مشکلات کا بھی علم ہے اور آج کے حالات کا بھی ادراک ہے، مجھے پاکستان کے گہرے مسائل کا احساس ہے اور آہنی سیاسی صورتحال کا بھی پتہ ہے، مجھے مستقبل میں ہونے والی تبدیلیوں کا بھی اندازہ ہے۔ اس لئے مجھے قائداعظم کے روشن خیال ایجنڈا کو بھی سامنے رکھنا ہے، قائد عوام کے ترقی پسند عوام کو بھی دیکھنا ہے اور دختر مشرق کے پرامن اور جمہوری پاکستان کے فلسفے کو بھی مدنظر رکھنا ہے۔ پیپلز پارٹی کو نئے انداز سے جدید طریقے کے مطابق منظم کرنا چاہتا ہوں، ہم نے مل کر نئے دور کیلئے ایک نئی پاکستان پیپلز پارٹی پیش کرنی ہے تاکہ موجودہ عہد کے چیلنجز کے مطابق مقابلہ کر سکیں۔
چیئرمین پیپلز پارٹی نے کہا کہ مسلم لیگ (ن) کی حکومت ہر محاذ پر ناکام ہوگئی ہے اور ان کے ذاتی مفاد کی وجہ سے پاکستان کے مفادات خطرے میں ہیں اس لئے ہم خاموش نہیں رہ سکتے، میں نے ان کو چار مطالبات دیئے تھے اور وقت بھی دیا مگر ان کو میری بات سمجھ نہیں آئی کیونکہ ہمیشہ ان کو باتیں دیر سے سمجھ آتی ہیں اور تب وقت گزر چکا ہوتا ہے۔ مجھے پتہ تھا کہ یہ حکومت اس ملک کے معصوم اور بے گناہ شہریوں کو تحفظ دینے کے بجائے دہشت گردوں کو تحفظ فراہم کر رہی ہے مگر اس وقت میری بات کسی نے نہیں مانی، آج سپریم کورٹ کے کوئٹہ کمیشن کی رپورٹ آگئی ہے اور وہی باتیں ثابت ہوگئی ہیں جو میں کہتا تھا۔ وزیر داخلہ مستعفی ہونے کے بجائے سپریم کورٹ سمیت سب کو دھمکیاں دے رہے ہیں۔ وزیر داخلہ کالعدم تنظیموں اور ان کے رہنماؤں سے ملاقاتیں کرتے ہیں اور ان کو اجازت دیتے ہیں کہ وہ اسلام آباد میں جلسہ کریں۔ مجھے اب دیکھنا یہ ہے کہ سپریم کورٹ کیا کرتی ہے، کیا وہی ہوتا ہے جو ہمارے وزیراعظم کے ساتھ ہوا تھا یا پھر ان لاڈلوں کیساتھ کوئی اور سلوک کیا جاتا ہے۔ میں چاہتا ہوں کہ اس جمہوری احتساب کے ذریے اس ملک کے معصوم شہریوں کو تحفظ فراہم ہو، دہشت گردی کاخاتمہ ہو اور لوگ خوف سے باہر نکلیں تاکہ معیشت اور معاشرت آگے بڑھ سکے مگر آپ نہیں مانے۔ معیشت ہماری طاقت ہے اور قدرت نے ہمیں سب کچھ دیا مگر ہم پھر بھی غریب ہیں، ہم صرف اپنے 20 فیصد ریسورسز استعمال کر سکتے ہیں، اس لئے کہ معیشت میں جمہوریت، مساوات اور انصاف نہیں، یہ اپنے مسائل میں غریبوں، مزدوروں، کسانوں اور عام آدمی کو حصہ دار بنانے کیلئے تیار نہیں ہیں۔ مگر آپ کو اندازہ نہیں، کہ یہ ساری دولت غریب کے خون، پیسنے اور آنسو کی وجہ سے ہے، اس لئے میں کہتا ہوں کہ شہید ذوالفقار علی بھٹو کے افکار کے مطابق ان کی زندگی میں بہتری لائیں، ان کے بچوں کو بھی تعلیم دیں، علاج دیں، تاکہ وہ واپس معیشت میں شامل ہو کر مزید دولت پیدا کر سکیں۔
ان کا کہنا تھا کہ جمہوری معیشت لے آئیں، مساوات اور برابری کا اصول اپنا لیں، میں تو معیشت میں بھی جمہوری انصاف چاہتا ہوں اس لئے نواز شریف سے کہا تھا کہ وہ سی پیک کو متنازع نہ بنائیں تاکہ صوبوں اور لوگوں کا اعتماد بحال ہو سکے مگر آپ نہیں مانے، ہم دنیا میں تنہاء کھڑے ہیں، ہمارے ملک کا وقار اور عزت خطرے میں ہے اور آپ اپنے ذاتی تعلق نبھانے پر تلے ہوئے ہیں۔ دنیا ہمیں دہشت گرد ملک بنانے کے چکر میں ہے اور آپ نے اپنی کابینہ میں دہشت گردوں کے سہولت کار رکھے ہوئے ہیں۔ یہ آپ کی ذات کا مسئلہ نہیں ہے، خدانخواستہ کل کچھ ہوا تو آپ باہر بھاگ جائیں گے مگر 20 کروڑ عوام کو یہاں رہنا ہے۔ میں کہتا رہا کہ ایک مستقل وزیر خارجہ لے آئیں جو حقیقت میں پاکستان کی نمائندگی کر سکے اور شہید ذوالفقار علی بھٹو کی خارجہ پالیسی پر عمل کر کے دنیا میں ملک کی عزت اور وقار بحال کرے۔ مگر آپ نہیں مانے، میاں صاحب کہتے ہیں کہ ہماری حکومت کا کوئی اسکینڈل نہیں ہے، محترم میاں صاحب، آپ واقعی اتنے سادہ ہیں یا پھر ہم 20 کروڑ عوام کو سادہ سمجھتے ہیں کہ ہم آپ کو سمجھتے ہی نہیں ہیں۔ آپ کے تو اسکینڈل ہی اسکینڈل ہیں، سستی روٹی اسکینڈل، یلو کیب اسکینڈل، دانش اسکول اسکینڈل اور حدیبیہ اسکینڈل سمیت بہت سارے اسکینڈل ہیں۔ مگر میں آج صرف اور صرف دنیا کے سب سے بڑے مالی اسکینڈل پر توجہ دینا چاہتا ہوں، یعنی پانامہ اسکینڈل۔ پاکستان میں کسی سے پوچھیں کہ وزیراعظم کون ہوتا ہے تو لوگ کہتے ہیں پانامہ شریف، اس سے ناملک کی عزت ہے نا آپ کی۔ میاں صاحب، آپ 90 کی دہائی میں میری ماں کے اوپر جھوٹے کیسوں پر کیس بنا رہے تھے تو عین اسی وقت آپ اپنے بچوں کے نام پر آف شور کمپنیز بنا رہے تھے، ہم نے کہا کہ ہم جمہوی انصاف چاہتے ہیں، نا خود تماشہ بنیں، نہ نظام کو تماشہ بنائیں، سینیٹ میں اپوزیشن کا پانامہ بل پاس کر دیا ہے اور اگر آپ نے قومی اسمبلی میں اس بل کو پاس کرنے میں کوئی رکاوٹ ڈالی تو پھر آپ کو اپوزیشن کے احتجاج کا سامنا کرنا پڑے گا۔ آپ نے احتساب کیلئے اپنے آپ کو خود پیش کیا تھا، تو اب آپ احتساب سے کیوں بھاگ رہے ہیں۔ کمال ہے کہ ایک طرف خود کو احتساب کیلئے پیش کرتے ہیں اور دوسری طرف ہمارا بل بھی پاس نہیں کرتے۔ اس موقع پر انہوں نے یہ شعر بھی پڑا کہ۔۔۔
خوب پردہ ہے کہ چلمن سے لگے بیٹھے ہیں
صاف چھپتے بھی نہیں، سامنے آتے بھی نہیں
ان کا کہنا تھا کہ ہم پانامہ بل کے بغیر سپریم کورٹ نہیں جانا چاہتے، ہاں ہمارے تمام اداروں کی تاریخ کوئی شاندار نہیں اور میں کہتا ہو ںکہ ہر ادارے کو اپنا اپنا افریضہ انجام دینا ہوگا، آمروں نے مارشل لاء لگایا لیکن عدلیہ کی تاریخ سب سے خوفناک ہے۔ جب ضیاءالحق نے مارشل لاء لگایا تو بیگم نصرت بھٹو کیس میں اس مارشل لاء کو جائز قرار دیا، پھر شہید ذوالفقار علی بھٹو کا عدالتی قتل کیا، جب شہید محترمہ بینظیر بھٹو کی حکومت کا خاتمہ کیا گیا تو وہ عدالت گئیں، انہیں انصاف نہیں ملا، جب نواز شریف کی اسمبلیاں توڑی گئیں تو اس کو بحال کر دیا گیا اور جب نواز شریف نے خود عدالت پر حملہ کروایا تو عدالت نے اس کو کلین چٹ دیدی۔ کیا سوموٹو کی تلوار صرف ہمارے لئے ہے؟ میں پوچھتا ہوں کہ اصغر خان کیس کا فیصلہ آج تک کیوں نہیں ہوا، میں پوچھتا ہوں کہ شہید ذوالفقار علی بھٹو کے عدالتی قتل کا فیصلہ آج تک کیوں نہیں ہوا؟ عدلیہ نے تو ہمارے ساتھ کبھی انصاف نہیں کیا، دیکھنا ہے کہ آج پاکستان کے ساتھ انصاف کرتے ہیں یا نہیں، اس لئے ہم اس بل کو منظور کروا کر عدالت میں جانا چاہتے ہیں۔ میاں صاحب میں نے کہا تھا کہ اپوزیشن کا متفقہ بل مان لیں، ہم جمہوری احتساب چاہتے ہیں مگر آپ نہیں مان رہے ہیں بلکہ الٹا آپ نے فرمایا کہ پاکستان پیپلز پارٹی 90 کی دہائی کی سیاست کرنا چاہتی ہے۔
بلاول بھٹو نے کہا کہ میاں صاحب ہماری ایک پارٹی لیڈر نے آپ کی بیٹی کے خلاف غلط زبان استعمال کی تو شہید محترمہ بے نظیر نے اسے پارٹی سے نکال دیا اور آپ نے اس بد زبان کو اپنا وزیر بنا لیا، آپ کے بھائی شہباز شریف نے میرے والد کو لاہور کی سڑکوں پر گھسیٹنے کی دھمکیاں دیں، میں ان والدین کا بیٹا ہوں جنہوں نے مجھے بڑوں کا احترام کرنا سکھا یا ہے لیکن اس کا مطلب یہ نہیں کہ آپ کی سیاست سے اختلاف نہ کروں۔ انہوں نے کہا کہ میاں صاحب آپ چاہتے ہیں کہ آپ کا وزیر حکیم اللہ محسود پر آنسو بہائے اور میں چپ رہوں، آپ کا بھائی دہشت گردوں سے اپیلیں کرتا پھرے کہ ہمیں نہ ماروں اور میں چپ رہوں، ملک عالمی تنہائی میں چلا جائے اور میں چپ رہوں، آپ سی پیک متنازعہ بنا دیں اور میں چپ رہوں، آپ مودی سے دوستی کریں اور میں چپ رہوں، نہیں میں چپ نہیں رہوں گا بلکہ ملک کے لوگوں کے لیے لڑوں گا کیونکہ میں ذوالفقار علی بھٹو اور بے نظیر کا وارث ہوں۔
https://ppppunjab.wordpress.com/2016/12/27/%D8%B9%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%85-%D8%AA%DB%8C%D8%A7%D8%B1-%DB%81%D9%88-%D8%AC%D8%A7%D8%A6%DB%8C%DA%BA%D8%8C-%D8%AC%D8%A7%D8%AA%DB%8C-%D8%A7%D9%85%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%A1-%DA%A9%DB%8C-%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%AF%D8%B4%D8%A7/
#SALAMBENAZIR - Remembering Benazir Bhutto
She would have been 63 this year if her glorious life was not put to an abrupt end. We lost her nine years ago.
As my country floats in the historical arena like a ship lost in high waters, without a compass or a captain, we think of how Benazir Bhutto would have led us today as the leader she was — the stateswoman, mother, wife, sister and human being.
I bumped into her for the first time at a diplomatic reception in Karachi in 1991 when I was a young diplomatic correspondent. She was the darling of the media. All eyes and ears were drawn towards her when she attended events.
One day in 1992, as I entered the reporters’ room at the daily The News International, a letter from her awaited me. It was about a suicide wave in Sindh, a cover story for the WE magazine of The News, edited by Najma Sadique. The story was about a dozen educated young men from Sindh who had committed suicide due to joblessness. BB had waved the magazine on the National Assembly floor, urging the government to look into the problem. The letter thanked me for bringing up the issue to the fore and telling me that Nisar Khuhro would be in touch with me about the story. This was my first formal introduction to the first female prime minister of Pakistan.
She was the darling of the media. All eyes and ears were drawn towards her when she attended events.
The following year, she became prime minister again .
I met her after many years in Washington DC when Pervez Musharraf was in government in Pakistan and when she was in exile again. She visited the US every year, met people at the Hill, think tanks, journalists, visited media houses, and her party supporters. We met at Voice of America News (VOA) as I worked there.
After 9/11, security was tightened across the United States. One day, as I entered the Cohen Building where VOA is housed, I saw her going through security checks at the gate. She was asked to put her things including her handbag in the tray. Finally she had to take her shoes off and put them in the tray as well. She walked barefooted through the gate. Watching the scene, I was hit by a storm of conflicting feelings. Till today, I can’t figure out what went through me. However, I did convey to VOA authorities not to treat her so in future.
She would keep me posted about her major engagements, as I would interview her more often, just like Nawaz Sharif who was living in Jeddah then. She informed me in early January of 2006 that she would be in DC by the end of the month. Farah Ispahani, who used to head VOA Urdu TV, and I suggested that BB should hold a press conference at VOA and invite the major US and international media outlets to cover it.
The date was fixed. Thursday, January 26, 2006. David Jackson, the then VOA director was in the loop and everybody was excited.
Then, out of the blue, Shaukat Aziz, then prime minister, visited the US and met President Bush on January 24. And all hell broke loose.
The State Department put tremendous pressure on VOA to cancel the event. The rationale was that it would send conflicting signals to the Pakistan government when two days after the prime minister’s White House visit, VOA was providing Benazir Bhutto with a forum to blast the Pakistan government on more than one issue, including harbouring terrorism and getting paid for it by Washington.
The Pakistani Embassy too was putting pressure via the State Department. Jackson stood his ground and didn’t cancel the media conference, much to Benazir Bhutto’s surprise as she later told me in an email. The compromise at VOA happened to be that she would not be received by the VOA director but instead by the head of the Urdu Service, Dr Brian Silver.
A few days prior to the event we organized, a story was doing rounds that her marriage was on the rocks and she and Asif Zardari were living separate lives.
Interpol was pressured by Musharraf’s government to issue Red Notices to her and husband Asif Zardari. Washington was rife with rumours that she might be arrested as she lands for the press conference. Journalists kept calling me asking if she would show up. She is more familiar with handcuffs than the bangles she wears, I told an anxious journo the day before the event.
On the afternoon of January 26, the Cohen Building opened its Independence Avenue gates after a long time, a practice reserved only for the heads of states and high-profile visitors. As BB’s car pulled up and the doors were opened, she and Zardari alighted from the car. Holding hands, they walked into the building.
We had placed just one chair on the podium for her but she insisted upon a second chair for Zardari. There was a scramble to pull up another chair for him at the last minute. Only then did she address the presser. And she blasted Musharraf’s regime about the Interpol notices.
She visited the US every year, met people at the Hill, think tanks, journalists, visited media houses, and her party supporters.
“Show me the court that wants me in Pakistan, I will catch the next flight and be there”, she roared from the podium, while taking questions from the mediapersons. The way she brought Zardari into the limelight, rejecting all rumours about their split, was novel and powerful.
Zardari and I hail from the same area of Sindh but we had not met each other until that day. I used to call him on his New York cell number or he would call me. We barely talked politics; mostly we talked about poetry and music, especially Sindhi poetry and music. It is said that he would be disrespectful towards BB but in my observation he was quite the opposite. When BB would be in New York, he would always say, “Boss is in town!” Who commanded whom too has been talked about, more on that later.
In the summer of 2006, I went to BB's New York apartment where Zardari resided. It was a hot afternoon. The lights were on and the interview progressed. In the middle of the interview as she finished answering one of my questions, she said, “ Can you please turn off the camera?” I thought she was annoyed by my questions but she said she would be right back.
She just moved to a side, pulled out her cell phone and called a doctor, giving the doctor the details about her daughter Aseefa, who needed some treatment. After a few minutes, she was back in interview mode. “ I had told the doctor that I will call him at 3:30 pm, so I had to,” she said. On my way back, on the Acela Express train going back to Washington, DC, I kept thinking how she smoothly switched from her role as a politician to a mother.
On August, 9, 2007, I had come back to my office after doing my show. At around 11:30 am my work phone rang. The caller ID showed a 212 area code telling me the call was from New York. It was her on the line.
“This is BB calling”, she said. When did you get here, I asked as I had no prior information about this visit. I am here, she said. How can I help you, I asked. “Come over tomorrow. Amaranth Restaurant in Manhattan, 5 pm. I will be waiting”, she almost summoned me. I said it was a working day for me, but she just repeated herself. I said, OK, I will be there.
Next day, I was back on the Acela Express to New York. As I entered the restaurant, I saw Zardari sitting right by the entrance. I met him and asked him where BB was. He pointed me to the back of the restaurant: she was busy talking to somebody while having ice cream. Many who knew her will confirm that she had a sweet tooth.
She smoothly switched from her role as a politician to a mother.
In a little while, Bilawal, Bakhtawar and Aseefa too came in, carrying shopping bags. That was the day when she told me about her plans to return to Pakistan on October 18.
“I am going back. Asif will look after my mom, kids and his business and stay in Dubai. Tell me if you want to go with me. I will ask FB [Farhatullah Babar] to book your seat on the plane. My party needs me for elections. We will win. I will be prime minister. You have to return and help us”, she said.
Zardari asked me to persuade her not to go as there were serious threats to her life. I said I agreed on the threats but the void was too big to be filled by anybody other than her. At that point, BB intervened and said Murtaza is right about it and added by saying, You had gone back to Lahore with much fanfare. What happened?
Zardari was silenced after this. She signed a copy of the second edition of her book Daughter of the East and that was it.
My last meeting with her was exactly three months before her assassination. On September 27, 2007, she sent a text asking me to meet her at the Ritz Carlton Hotel at 2 pm. When I got there, Senator Akbar Khawaja, Shuja Nawaz, Zardari and a few others were there, discussing the details of her return. Refusal by Musharraf to get international security did figure in the conversation and so did the conversation with Condoleezza Rice. She did mention the obstructions created by Musharraf who did not want her to travel to Pakistan on October 18. But BB was adamant. With everything announced, I can’t renege on my commitment, already announced, and it is vital for my party to be there, she stressed. The environment was a bit tense.
Little did I know that she had a rough conversation with Musharraf on the phone. All those details came out after the assassination.
During the discussion, she asked me a question. As I started to answer, a phone rang —Zardari’s small Motorolla flip phone. He picked up the call and started talking. I had never seen BB so angry. “Pinky” she was called but, when angry, she turned red.
"My party needs me for elections. We will win. I will be prime minister. You have to return and help us”, she said.
“Do you know that I asked Murtaza a question? It is important for me to listen to his answer. If you have to take care of your personal business, please go outside, finish your call and come back”, said BB. Zardari got up, went out and came back. That showed me who called the shots in their marriage.
She remained in contact with me by phone and email till the last weeks of her life. One day, Ahmed Rashid, a mutual friend and one of the top Afghanistan experts, said she was busy talking to several people including himself when I called her and she took the call. Rashid later cracked the joke with her that it might be a Sindhi connection from Washington. She was always very kind and accommodating.
Once, she was in town but didn’t meet me, so I shot her an email about it. Her confidante Senator Akbar Khawaja called me and gave me the time to see her at 6.30 am for breakfast. I was shocked but that is the time she had and she did come to have breakfast with me while apologizing at the same time.
That day too there was barely any traffic on I-395 and, in 20 minutes, I was in my office.
As I passed the red-eyed security guards, I went straight to the studio. In the studio I had small TV monitors with the audio on mute. We had Geo TV on one of the monitors, to keep us updated on what was happening in the country where our broadcasts were beaming to.
The first call was of course to Ayaz Gul whose numbers I had memorized. So what is new Ayaz, I asked. He gave me a rundown of the major stories and events taking place that day. He told me about Benazir Bhutto’s rally in Liaquat Bagh Rawalpindi .
Political heat was on as both former prime ministers Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif were back. Both were supposed to address rallies in Rawalpindi that day. Sharif was coming to town via GT Road to mobilise the city to support his party's candidates Javed Hashmi and Hanif Abbasi who were contesting against Sheikh Rasheed (leader of Awami Muslim League).
Over the phone, Zardari said, “She has been hit. Pray for her life”.
I started calling different politicians and analysts to record short interviews that I would later use during my show. Then I called Wajid Shamsul Hasan, BB's close confidante in London. As I started recording him, I also kept an eye on the TV monitors to see what was going on.
As I was recording the interview, I saw a ticker on Geo reporting a blast outside Liaquat Bagh after the rally but it said Benazir was safe. Later I saw a news ticker quoting her chief of security Rehman Malik saying she was alright. As I was talking to Wajid Bhai, as we used to call him, I saw a missed call on my cell phone that I would always take inside the studio but would keep it on vibrating mode. It was Zardari’s UAE cell number ending on*** 835.
I apologized to Wajid Shamsul Hasan and told him that I missed a call from Asif Zardari. Let me call him back and then I will call you, I said.
Over the phone, Zardari said, “She has been hit. Pray for her life”. I told him that Malik had said she was OK and so did the media. He used some profanity and told me in Sindhi if I would believe them or him. I kept quiet. After a little while, the news was out. She was no more.
I still remember that day prominent op-ed writer Ayaz Amir left me a voice message on my work phone. “My heart is torn apart. Please call me and take me online”, the message said. For days we cried. People in Washington would stop and ask if we were Pakistanis and then would say that they were sorry for our loss.
One wonders how BB would have dealt with the issues that Pakistan, the region and the world face today. I can say with a fair bit of confidence that she would have provided much better alternatives than those provided by others, her political party's government included.
#SALAMBENAZIR - Benazir: A force that only death could stop
Today marks the 9th anniversary of the assassination of Benazir Bhutto by forces and political machinators who were fearful of the storm that she was gathering against them. Her death, though one that shocked and horrified the world at large, in retrospect seems more logical given that her opponents and detractors could not go toe to toe with her on the political battlefield; her achievements and capabilities put her in a league of her own and they knew it.
Benazir Bhutto was born on 21 June 1953, the eldest daughter of Pakistan People’s Party Founder Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto. Educated at some of the best schools in her hometown in Karachi, she was still very much brought up as a woman of the people by her family, who could see her brilliance and potential as a vital member of the family’s political dynasty. This can be seen by the fact that despite being primarily an English speaker as well as being fluent in Urdu, she was also fluent in Sindhi, using it in her interactions with her servants as well as other native Sindhi speakers.
Her efforts in school led her to gaining admission into arguably the two most prestigious universities in the world namely, Harvard University and the University of Oxford. At Harvard, where she studied comparative government, gaining a foothold in the science of politics by studying other democracies and administrative systems. Her time at Harvard as well as her subsequent achievements led her classmates to create the Benazir Bhutto Leadership Programme at her alma mater, which was aimed at training future leaders in Muslim countries who shared Benazir’s principles.
Her subsequent time at Oxford had a similarly superlative record. Not only did she shine in her studies on a wide breath of subjects which included philosophy, economics, politics, international law and democracy. She was also elected as president of the Oxford Union, due to her brilliant oratory skills, becoming the first Asian women to be chosen as the leader of the prestigious society.
These efforts were simply a precursor, an indicator of her future career as one of the most eminent, verbose, charismatic and astute politicians that Pakistan has ever had. This was made evident when she became Prime Minister for the first time in 1988, the first women to be elected head of a Muslim majority nation; an unprecedented achievement that she later repeated. Though her time in power was relatively short, due in part to the intrigues and plots of her opponents of whom only some were part of the legislative establishment, she nonetheless created and achieved a remarkable record both in her time in office and outside it as well. It were these triumphs, these successes in the face of immense adversity, that convinced her enemies that no obstacle could stop her from the goal she had set for herself and her party. Left with no choice when faced with a character against whom they paled in comparison, they chose the only way they could, to halt the force of nature that was Benazir Bhutto.
#SALAMBENAZIR - The daughter of the East
Bashir Riaz
Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto was the glorious face of Pakistan and was a source for a bright future for our country. She was not only one of the youngest head of states in the world but she was the first woman to serve as the head of state in any Muslim country in the world. She was brutally martyred on 27th December, 2007 in Liaqat Bagh Rawalpindi. Although 9 years have gone by since this tragic event, yet the memories of BB Shaheed are quite vivid and still alive in the minds and hearts of people of Pakistan. Due to this reason, 27th December is remembered throughout the world and great homage is paid to her political and national services. She was a national and International leader of great repute and laid down lasting and effective impressions on the national politics of Pakistan and irrespective of political affiliations every one shed tears on her Shahdat.
If we look at the life of SMBB, we see that soon after Chairman Z. A Bhutto’s elected Government was overthrown through martial law, she started facing tough and difficult times. Her life became a tale of struggle and she became the youngest political prisoner of our country. The song of her bravery and courage became a melody and spread throughout the world.
An unarmed young girl faced all sorts of cruelties and tyrannies of Zia ul Haq’s draconian regime. She faced difficulties including arrests and forced exiles. She also had to go through the pain of losing her brothers and most importantly of losing her father. As a daughter she wasn’t allowed to even wish her father farewell. However, she faced all these difficulties with great courage and never compromised on the dignity and honour of Pakistan. She did not waver on her commitment towards democracy in her beloved homeland. Thanks to the wisdom and memories of the people seminars are arranged and being held throughout the world in the educational and political institutions to pay homage to SMBB.
Recently, Benazir Bhutto Leadership Programme was launched at Harvard University, of which she had been a student as well, keeping in view her vision, political struggle and contributions. The Programme is aimed to support students from Muslim countries around the world. This is a great honour for Shaheed BB and Pakistanis are proud of this.
A great deal has been written on her political struggle and further more would be recorded by historians. But in her long journey, besides those problems and difficulties which she faced, was her role as a wife and a mother. Mohtarma BB was a trustworthy and loving personality. During the period her husband was in prison, she organised massive movements and raised her voice on international forums. BB was a soft spoken and kind hearted lady.
She used to feel the pain of others, who were suffering. When the agencies leveled allegations of corruption against Asif Ali Zardari, she was advised to get a divorce from him, but she rejected these suggestions. A government envoy also advised her do the same and she replied to him, “Do you want to ruinmy life? Do you want that I should destroy my life and the future of my children”. She was deeply hurt by this.
As a matter of fact SMBB was fighting on every front. Her own family life was in danger and her political career was also at stake. She was being made to believe that all the allegations of corruption and the consequence thereof in the form of difficulties are due to Asif Zardari.
But she faced all these allegations with great courage and fortitude. She appeared twice in the courts in Switzerland and exposed the fabricated story of necklace and the jeweler appeared personally in the court and admitted and he had never met or seen her. SMBB used to say that all the cases were falsely framed against her. A drug case was framed against Asif Ali Zardari. The then, interior Minister Chaudhry Shujat Hussain confirmed this and said that it was totally false.
Being a mother, she looked after her children in the capacity of a father as well, as her husband was in prison for 11 years and she was praying throughout this period for her children and husband and this was the most difficult period of her life. She remained calm, cool and was patient and was hopeful and confident. This shows her strong and finest character of a humble, faithful wife and caring mother. This is the reason that her children have achieved social and political understanding.
BB Shaheed was not in favor of Bilawal taking part in politics without the completion of his education. Her first priority for Bilawal was to complete his education. After completing his studies from Oxford, Bilawal has started taking active part in the politics of Pakistan and now he is holding the responsibility of Chairman of the party. By his entering into politics a storm has started in Pakistan and he is now busy in re-organising the party throughout Pakistan.
It is true that people who were with BB, will not be with Bilawal. But he has a prerogative of being a son of Shaheed BB and now people have lot of expectations from him, as they had great trust in the leadership of SMBB. Similarly, he will enjoy the trust of the people as he carries the legacy and inheritance of his mother. This is the same trust which was transferred to BB after the martyrdom of SZAB. Some people may regard this as political inheritance. But in fact, it is a matter of political understanding and love of the people, which is the continuation of the same trust and confidence given to the people of Pakistan by SZAB.
Now, Bilawal has appeared on the horizon as a symbol of political hope and People’s rule. Surely he will be the future political successor of BB, as he has studied the ideology, political wisdom and views of SMBB. Bilawal has paid great tributes to SMBB in which he said, “I’m the son of Shaheed BB. I believe in the politics of truth and I do not go back on my word. ”
It would be worthwhile to mention here that no government could have been formed in 2002 elections without the participation of PPP. Unfortunately some members of the party joined Musharraf’s Government to enjoy power. Shaheed BB was shocked due to this. SMBB had reservations and doubts that if PPP won the elections of 2007, the same scenario of 2002,elections could be repeated. Thus, using her experience and political acumen and sagacity she decided to come back and take part in the elections. She didn’t care about dangers to her life and proved that she was the true and real successor of her father and ultimately sacrificed her life for the sake of people and Pakistan.
She lived for the people of Pakistan, with the people of Pakistan, and died with the people of Pakistan. Zindahaibibizindahai!
Pakistan - Benazir Bhutto; a fight against extremism
By Naheed Khan
The month of December brings sadness.
Emotions run high and flashbacks to the tragedy of December 27 along with the intrusive memories which traumatised the people of Pakistan as a whole, regardless of their political affiliation. The one leader who united us, who taught us the meaning of dignity and courage, who was a symbol of federation and a visionary to lead the nation in a respectful manner on the international horizon is missing today.
The people always look towards a leader who can solve their problems, give them relief, lift their spirits and reinvigorate the masses. During the eleven long years of martial law, PPP workers were lashed, tortured and confined in Shahi Qila and their struggle for democracy led to party-based elections in 1988. She was a moderate person, richly embedded in Pakistani culture and Islamic heritage. On November 16, the public participated in party-based elections and voted for her to become the first woman Prime Minister of an Islamic country.
Immediately after taking oath in 1988, she released all political prisoners held by the dictatorial regime of Zia-ul-Haq, commuted all death sentences, lifted the ban on labour and student unions and gave greater freedom to the press. She was clear in her thoughts to protect the women, minorities, children and under privileged from the rich and the mighty and to build a just society where every Pakistani child has access to education, basic health facilities and a better social structure. Her government was dismissed twice and she was dragged from court to court and city to city but she remained resilient and faced all odds with the utmost bravery and courage.
After withdrawal of the Soviet Union from Afghanistan in 1989-1990, Pakistan’s relationship with the US was fragile due to the US government’s suspicions about Pakistan’s nuclear-programme, but she didn’t compromise on Pakistan’s national security interests. Today, Pakistan holds a central strategic position in the global world, particularly in South Asia. On the other hand, terrorism, extremism, growing corruption and protecting our nuclear assets are major concerns of an average Pakistani. In these circumstances, Pakistan’s stability is important.
There was a need for Pakistan to have a visionary and an outstanding leader like Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto whose first priority was Pakistan.
Apart from terrorism and poor governance, political instability and an economic mess, massive corruption by the top political leaders has led to despondency amongst the public. Our society is clearly divided between the moderate and radical elements and between different ethnic and sectarian beliefs. Growing militancy on both sides of the border of Pakistan and Afghanistan has created a trust deficit and developed suspicions and doubts at both ends.
A glaring example is Afghan President Ashraf Ghani’s recent speech about Pakistan during the Heart of Asia conference on Indian soil. The relationship with Afghanistan was cordial during Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto’s government as her policy on Afghanistan was very clear. She always wanted that Afghanistan should be stable, free of foreign interference and the Afghan people should have a political system of their own choice.
Today, the absence of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto is felt even more when Indian atrocities are at the maximum against Kashmiri freedom fighters. There was a need for the PM to protect and highlight the Kashmir cause at the international for a, but since there is no Foreign Minister nor any clear foreign policy, Mian sahib’s government is taking advantage of building personal relationship with the Indian leadership.
Although Ms Bhutto herself paid a very heavy price for democracy, but all these difficulties strengthened her resolve and commitment to build up a just society to look after the economic interests of the poor people of Pakistan and to uplift their living standards. She was a ray of hope for the people for a better future. She was a vocal advocate of the democratic system in Pakistan to protect her countrymen from human rights abuses and to give them political freedom so that they can freely choose their government.
She is no more in the world, but millions of people in Pakistan and around the world consider her an iconic figure as far as her struggle for democracy is concerned. She had deep faith and trust in the people’s power. She knew that dictatorial forces may kill her but cannot eliminate her from the political landscape of Pakistan nor can they erase her name from the pages of history.
She would remain a living factor in democratic politics for all times to come. Bibi you will always be remembered.
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