Thursday, November 30, 2017
#50YearsOfPPP - Bhutto continues to rule the people’s hearts
Syed I Husain
On 1 April 1948, 20-year-old Zulfikar Ali Bhutto spoke at University of Southern California of the Islamic Heritage and said, “I see a failure of the Muslim world as a personal failure. In that respect something is binding about the Muslim world despite the fact that it is torn by dissension. I am not a devout Muslim. My interest is soaked in the political, economic and ethnic heritage of Islam. Imperialism has sapped our vitality and drained our blood in every portion of the globe. The young generation of Muslims, who will be the leaders of a new force, of an order founded on justice, wants the end of exploitation. Under the Islamic confederation, the future world may be secure. Destiny demands an Islamic association, political reality justifies it, posterity awaits it, and by God we will experience it. Courage is in our blood, we are the children of rich heritage. We shall surely succeed.”
He frequently spoke about creating a pan Islamic league with his friends. He was always a follower of Quaid-e-Azam Jinnah and would often discuss his ideology with his roommates.
Shortly after Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s death in September 1948, Bhutto wrote to the Pakistani envoy and said, “We have been orphaned at the all-important moment when we needed more than any other force, the torrential magnanimity of our beloved leader. Though the Quaid is no longer with us, yet his pure and virgin spirit will remain forever fertile in our psyche. His entire life was struggle for the improvement and emancipation of his people.” Bhutto spent some time volunteering during summer vacation at Pakistan Embassy. In one of the papers he wrote there, he termed Muhammad Ali Jinnah as his ideal and said that Jinnah was solely responsible for the origination of a state for those he led in the struggle for the emancipation of their lives. His dream of creating a Pakistan has been a outstanding dream, the realisation of his dream has been nothing short of a miracle. He had to lead a people who were thoroughly divided and depressed. He has been a God inspired human being, a man of purity of heart, of an unbelievable audacity and a unique courage and determination.
Less than a year after being enrolled at Lincoln’s Inn in 1953, he was called to the bar at the same location where Muhammad Ali Jinnah had once stayed. Barrister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto apprenticed in the chambers of Ash Lincoln. In 1957, Bhutto became the youngest member of Pakistan’s delegation to the United Nations. He addressed the UN Sixth Committee on Aggression that October and led Pakistan’s delegation to the first UN Conference on the Law of the Sea in 1958. That year, Bhutto also became Pakistan’s youngest federal minister. He entered government as one of President Iskander Mirza’s cabinet members, before being assigned several ministries during President Ayub Khan’s military rule. In 1963, he was appointed as the country’s foreign minister.
In 1965, Pakistan and India went to war. Later on January 10, 1966, President Ayub and Indian Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri agreed to exchange prisoners of war and withdraw respective forces to pre-war boundaries. This agreement was strongly opposed in Pakistan. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s criticism of the final agreement resulted in a major rift between him and President Ayub Khan.
Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, while addressing the National Assembly in March 1966 after prolonged attacks against the regime for its mishandling of the war, said: “Let us look at the history: In 1939, Britain and France declared war against Germany, because in that respect it was a commitment to support the frontiers of Poland. A commitment that needs to be honoured. What really happened in Korea? It’s a war of liberation. Can Kashmir be exclusion, should we not be committed to the 5 million people of Jammu and Kashmir? The statement, that the future of 50 million people of East Pakistan was jeopardised for 5 million people of Jammu and Kashmir is a bankrupt and immoral argument. Then you will say, let Balochistan go, let Sindh go. Propaganda means vilification, propaganda means slander. No respectable and self-respecting country would like to indulge in propaganda. We do not indulge in propaganda. This is not our policy. Only as far as Jammu and Kashmir is concerned, as far as the liberation is concerned, as far as the question of justice is concerned we are not precluded from espousing and propagating these causes.
I tell you we are true. There can be no force, no strength greater than truth. Truth itself is on our side. India will have to abandon its colony in Jammu and Kashmir.” Three days after the speech, Bhutto was ordered to resign as General Secretary of Ayub’s Muslim League.
The fire Bhutto spouted at the UN, and the chants of victory in the National Assembly made young Pakistanis think that at last they had a leader who was committed to bringing a positive change in the country
Following his resignation as the foreign minister, large crowds gathered upon his arrival in Lahore in June, 1967. Nearly the whole of Lahore gave him an emotional welcome. He was garlanded and hooked onto the shoulders of supporters including students. Salman Taseer, who was at that time a student himself, was there to chant the slogans of ‘Long live Bhutto’. The fire Bhutto spouted at UN, and the chants of victory in the National Assembly made young Pakistanis think that at last they got a leader who was committing to bringing a positive change in the country. Dr Mubashir Hasan’s Gulberg House in Lahore became the locus of the PPP’s birth on November 30, 1967. “Islam is our faith, democracy is our policy, and socialism is our economy” was the party’s manifesto.
In a bid to create a sense of unity among the Muslim countries, Bhutto invited heads of almost every Muslim state to come to Pakistan for an Islamic summit. His efforts in this regard are acknowledged even by his harshest critics. But he could not serve the nation for long. Bhutto’s arrest and the most brutal period of Pakistan’s history after his hanging in 1979 is still fresh in my memory. I would advise the readers to read more about him to know what made him immortal and why he remains alive in the hearts of the people of Pakistan. From prison, he sent a letter to Zia.
“Politics is not the illegal seizure of the state machinery. Politics is not the conversion of a flowering society into a wasteland. Politics is the soul of life. It is my eternal romance with the masses. Only the people can stop this eternal bond. To me politics and the people are synonymous. You or your coterie has no right to take away my spiritual and perishable links with the beloved people of my country. It is an inseparable component of my heritage. My blood is in the blood of Pakistan. I am a constituent of its dust, a part of its aroma. The tears of the people are my tears. The smile on their beautiful face is a part of my smile. My destiny is in the hands of the people. Only the masses have the right to severe or seal their affinities with me.”
No person in the history of Pakistan achieved greater popular power as Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. He is venerated by his followers in Pakistan as Quaid-e-Awam. Bhutto’s political rise and fall were indeed so meteoric that they ended up making him a champion of democracy in the state over which he presided for little more than half a decade prior to his hanging. A full decade after his death, Bhutto remained popular enough to ensure the election of his daughter Benazir Bhutto to the position he once held. The slogan that always greeted her across the country was ‘Jiye Bhutto’. This is why Bhutto is still alive, this is why jiyalas are celebrating the 50 years of the PPP.
#50YearsOfPPP - Sit-in aftermath: Bilawal urges all stakeholders to let democracy function
In the aftermath of Faizabad sit-in, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari urged on Thursday armed forces and other stake-holders to show restraint and let democracy function in the country.
https://tribune.com.pk/story/1572903/1-sit-aftermath-bilawal-urges-stakeholders-let-democracy-function/
Addressing workers at a ceremony in Islamabad, he said the issue of Faizabad protests must be deliberated upon by a judicial commission, Express News reported.
The statement came hours after Supreme Court expressed dissatisfaction over performance of intelligence agencies and law enforcement agencies during the nearly three-week-long sit-in by a religious group at the federal capital’s Faizabad Interchange. At least six protesters died, while more than 200 people – including protesters and law enforcers – were injured in the ‘botched’ clearance operation by the capital administration.
“We need to learn from our mistakes and weaknesses to determine the future path,” said the PPP chairman, adding that the last few days were not ideal for the country’s youth as they saw the state kneeling down before the agitators.
Terming the events that led the entire country to a halt as unfortunate, Bilawal said the government’s writ had eroded and rule of law was being mocked.
“… we want to see democratic system flourish in the days to come,” he said. “I want to see the government completing its tenure and that elections being held on time.”
https://tribune.com.pk/story/1572903/1-sit-aftermath-bilawal-urges-stakeholders-let-democracy-function/
#PPP golden jubilee: Gillani demands merger of Fata with KP
Former prime minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani has demanded merger of the Federally Administrated Tribal Areas (FATA) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and said that it was need of the hour to bring the tribal areas in mainstream.
He said that some forces had forced him witting letter against then president Asif Ali Zardari but he preferred his ouster instead writing letter like Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto who preferred jail instead accepting offers of going abroad to safe his skin.
Addressing the golden jubilee ceremony of PPP here at the Gillani house on Thursday, he said that the PPP backed Fata merger with KP as a party policy because it was the voice of tribal people. He said the merger is the most logical and practical option.
The former premier said that the meeting with Qatri prince in Jati Umrah is not a good omen.
He said that when he was a prime minister he preferred meeting foreign diplomats in federal capital.
Preferably, the meeting should be held in federal capital. The government should arrange meeting of opposition parties with the Qatri prince.
“When I was prime minister I arranged meetings between opposition and foreign diplomats and guests,” he said.
Gillani greeted the PPP workers and Jiyialas on completion of 50 years of party.
He said that the PPP had bravely fought against dictatorships for the protection of civil rights of masses.
The PPP founder Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto played a key role in safe and sound return of 90, 000 soldiers after Dhakka fall. Shaheed Bhutto equipped the country with nuclear program, drafted 1973 Constitution and right to vote to people of Pakistan.
It was Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto who amended the Constitution with Khatam-e-Nabuwwat section and enacted laws on Khatam-e-Nabuwwat. He said that Bilawal House is near to completion in the city of saints Multan and it would be completed in the next two months. The PPP workers would remain in contact with party leadership directly.
Gillani said that he was offered lucrative offers during his imprisonment but he preferred jail instead enjoying from perks and offers.
He said he has done record development projects in southern Punjab during the last PPP government.
The former premier also hoisted party flag at the Gillani House and cut cake of PPP golden jubilee.
Benazir Bhutto: The strongest woman to lead Pakistan both in life and death
Sabyn Javeri
"Is it true that the prime minister of Pakistan is a woman?” asks the female Afghan protagonist of Samira Makhmalbaf’s 2003 film, At Five in the Afternoon. Although I had grown up in a Pakistan that witnessed the prodigal return of Benazir Bhutto against all odds, her miraculous rise, her predictable fall and her tragic end, it was this dialogue that really hit home what it meant to be a female head of the government of a Muslim country. She achieved the impossible and in doing so, inspired many others to believe in their dreams.
She was the first woman to rise to such high office in a country that only a few years earlier had passed a law to reduce the status of a woman’s testimony in court to half that of a man. She inspired millions of others all around the globe, not just with her unbelievable ascent to power but also with her charm and wit, her political intellect and her personality that refused to cower before the toughest of opponents. Her legacy as the most influential Pakistani lives on. She continues to inspire, enthuse and motivate women and the marginalised — both in Pakistan and abroad. For many, she is a symbol of hope, the poster person of dreamers and doers alike.
Having grown up in the shadow of her charismatic father, Benazir came into her own when Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was hanged in 1979. His death fueled her. His mission became hers and she carried on the fight for democracy in self-exile.
She was a brilliant student and excelled in oratory at Harvard and Oxford, inspiring not just minds but also connecting hearts — it was she who introduced the incumbent British Prime Minister Theresa May to Philip May who would become her husband. A shrewd politician and a committed family woman, Benazir has a legacy that refused to die down with her. As veteran journalist Hasan Mujtaba said in his poem, “Tum zinda hokar murda ho/Wo murda hokar zinda hai (You are already dead while you live/She is alive in her death).”
It was Benazir’s unapologetic attitude towards being a woman along with an elected leader that had many in a flux. In the 1980s, at a time when hyper-masculinity was the norm for women making it into a man’s world, she took on politics on her own terms. She actualised the phrase that ‘women can have it all’ by giving birth while also being the prime minister.
She had two brief stints in office (1988-90 and 1993-96) during which she was busier firefighting the conspiracies and allegations against her than actually accomplishing anything. She was a progressive visionary; her ideas, however, did not match that of the torturous administrative apparatus run by a bureaucracy made inefficient by a decade of Ziaul Haq’s military rule. She wanted better ties with India, her meetings with Rajiv Gandhi are well remembered as a means to carve a new roadmap to peace. But this, of course, did not go down well with the military establishment.
She had an ambitious economic agenda but she was not able to realise much of it, partly because of the friction with the army, partly because of opposition from political players such as the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and Nawaz Sharif, and partly because of the incompetence and corruption of her own party. Most of her time in power was spent battling for survival against the machinations of those opposed to her, including the then presidents of the country, who were constantly trying to bring down her governments.
Benazir faced constant character assassination, perpetual resistance from the mullahs who would try to stir up the public by proclaiming that a government headed by a woman was un-Islamic and persistent refusal by army generals to salute a female prime minister. Yet she managed to leave behind a legacy of commitment to democracy, economic empowerment of the downtrodden and social equality that is rivalled by only the one left by her father.
In spite of the bureaucratic machinery that hindered many of her ideas, she left in her wake the Benazir Income Support Programme that has proved a welfare lifeline for those on the edges of society. Though not established directly by her, it was a result of the ideas she had initiated and was thus named after her. She set up the Lady Health Worker Programme that has become the backbone of the family healthcare system across Pakistan.
She also promoted the idea of higher education and – though not in her term in power – many years later it germinated into the Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Institute of Science and Technology (SZABIST) that now has multiple campuses across Sindh and has expanded into the teaching of law, liberal arts and humanities as well.
Then there are hospitals, schools, roads and many other development initiatives that go unnoticed in the larger political events. She could not get due credit for many of them as they were initiated by her governments but, due to her shortened tenures, were completed by other administrations. Some of her achievements came to light and were acknowledged after her death — as is the case with a posthumous United Nations Human Rights Prize conferred on her in 2008.
Though not free of corruption scandals – something she faced numerous cases for – she was able to rise above those in death, if not in life. Her courage and defiance, her resilience to rally on even in the face of death threats and terrorist attacks have become symbolic of what it means to be a woman in Pakistan. She was seldom respected by her opponents while she was alive but she is revered by all and sundry after her assassination.
Whether she wanted it or not, Benazir continues to reign on as the most influential Pakistani of our times, overshadowing sportspersons, rock stars, army generals and Islamist jihadists. As she was once quoted to have said, “I have led an unusual life. I have buried a father killed at age 50 and two brothers killed in the prime of their lives. I raised my children as a single mother when my husband was arrested and held for eight years without a conviction — a hostage to my political career.”
A phoenix that rose from the ashes time and again, Benazir proved herself, if she ever needed any proving, through her tragic death in a suicide blast at the height of her election campaign in 2007 as someone who would go to any lengths to achieve her ideals. Many will find it hard to digest that the most influential Pakistani around the world should be a woman but the fact remains: she was the first one of our political leaders who challenged terrorists publicly even when she knew that the price of that challenge could be her own life.
#50YearsOfPPP - #PPP celebrating its Golden Jubilee today; celebrations at district headquarters to be held: Bilawal
Pakistan Peoples Party founded by Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, is celebrating its Golden Jubilee today. Chairman Pakistan Peoples Party Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has directed all the office-bearers and workers of the party across Pakistan to hold celebrations at district headquarters on the golden jubilee Foundation Day.
Chairman PPP has also directed all the office-bearers and workers to host Party flags on their houses on the Foundation Day.
It may be recalled that a huge public meeting to observe PPP Foundation Day has been scheduled at Parade Ground in Islamabad on December 5, 2017 where PPP workers from all over the country have also been invited to attend.
http://www.thesindhtimes.com/pak/ppp-celebrating-golden-jubilee-today-celebrations-district-headquarters-held-bilawal/
#50YearsOfPPP - Bilawal Bhutto asks 'all forces' to let democracy flourish
Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman made a request to all forces in the country on Thursday, asking them let the federal government complete its tenure and thus helping the democracy flourish in the country.
He was talking to an event organised in Islamabad for the 50th anniversary of PPP. Bilawal said that their party is working to strengthen democracy in the country and they will keep doing so. “We should recall our weakness throughout these 50 years,” he suggested.
While recalling the services of his party, he mentioned Benazir Income Support Programme and sacrifices to ensure democracy in the country.
Bilawal’s message on Foundation Day
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said, “The use of innovative technology is in line with our vision of a technologically-advanced Pakistan. We Are Trend Setters.”
He said that despite braving worst onslaughts, conspiracies and media trials by three dictatorial regimes and their puppets, the PPP was here to stay and continue to make history, stressing that in the struggle for a democratic and invincible Pakistan with an egalitarian society, we lost our founder Chairman Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto and thousands of workers. “But the struggle is on and the convoy of democracy and downtrodden masses is still marching towards our mission,” he added.
The son of ex-President Asif Zardari called for timely elections. On Faizabad sit-in and operation, Bilawal expressed disappointment at the federal government.
The PPP chief announced to hold rally in Islamabad’s Parade Ground on December 5.
Controversial census
The PPP chief expressed concerns on the annual census saying that Sindh faced unequal treatment as shown in results. He declared the census controversial.
People of Sindh, Balochistan and South Punjab have also complained about the census. Even the people of FATA are not happy with the census, he added.
Week-long celebrations
The 50th anniversary of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) is being celebrated across the country today. The PPP has decided to arrange week-long ceremonies to mark the golden jubilee celebrations.
Main ceremonies to celebrate golden jubilee of the PPP will be held in Karachi and Islamabad. The PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari will cut the cake in Karachi while PPP chairman Bilawal Bhuttoo Zardari will cut the cake in Islamabad.
http://dunyanews.tv/en/Pakistan/416875-PPP-Chairman-Bilawal-Bhutto-says-let-democracy-flourish
سابق صدرِ پاکستان اور پاکستان پیپلز پارٹی پارلیمنٹیرینز کے صدر آصف علی زرداری کا پاکستان پیپلزپارٹی کے 50ویں یوم تاسیس (گولڈن جوبلی) 30نومبر کے موقع پر پیغام
سابق صدرِ پاکستان اور پاکستان پیپلز پارٹی پارلیمنٹیرینز کے صدر آصف علی زرداری نے پاکستان پیپلزپارٹی کے 50ویں یوم تاسیس (گولڈن جوبلی) 30نومبر کے موقع پر اپنے پیغام میں کہا کہ وہ اس شاندار موقع پر ملک کے اندر اور بیرون ملک مقیم تمام پارٹی کارکنوں اور تمام جمہوریت پسند عوام کو مبارکباد پیش کرتے ہیں۔ یہ خوشیاں منانے کا موقع ہے اور اس کے ساتھ ساتھ ہمیں اپنی غلطیوں کا تجزیہ، پارٹی کی تنظیم نو اور اپنے اندر جھانک کر دیکھنا چاہیے۔ عوام کی خدمات کے حوالے سے پارٹی اپنےریکارڈ پر فخر کرتی ہے۔
پارٹی نے نعرے “طاقت کا سرچشمہ عوام ہیں” نے گزشتہ 50سالوں میں پاکستان کا سیاسی نقشہ ترتیب دیا ہے۔ حقیقت میں یہ عوام کے ضمیر پر نقش ہو چکی اور کبھی بھی مٹائی نہیں جا سکتی۔ پارٹی نے تسلسل کے ساتھ ایک کے بعد دوسری ڈکٹیٹرشپ کا مقابلہ کرنے کے ساتھ ساتھ ملک کو متفقہ آئین دیا، نیوکلیئر اور میزائل ٹیکنالوجی دے کر ملک کے دفاع کو مضبوط کیا، مشترکہ مفادات کونسل بنا کر صوبوں کو آواز دی ہے، مسلم ممالک کو اجتماعی آواز دی، 1971ء میں گنوائی جانے والی اراضی واگزار کروائی اور خواتین، محنت کشوں، کسانوں اور کچلے ہوئے طبقات کو بااختیار بنایا اور انہیں جبر سے آزاد کرایا۔ یہ پاکستان پیپلزپارٹی ہی ہے
جس نے شملہ سمجھوتے کے ذریعے پاکستان اور بھارت کے درمیان جنگوں کو رکوایا۔ یہ پیپلزپارٹی ہی ہے جس نے پاکستان میں پہلی مرتبہ حبس بے جا کو قانون میں متعارف کروا کر تمام شہریوں کے انسانی حقوق کا تحفظ کیا۔ اپنے اصولوں اور آئیڈیلز کے لئے پارٹی کے دو سربراہوں اور لاتعداد کارکنوں نے اپنی جانوں کا نذرانہ پیش کیا۔ پارٹی کے ریکارڈ اور جمہوریت کے لئے جدوجہد کا کوئی ثانی نہیں اورملک میں کوئی سیاسی جماعت پیپلزپارٹی کی خدمات کے پاسنگ بھی نہیں۔ پارٹی اس بات پر یقین رکھتی ہے کہ سیاسی تبدیلی آزادانہ اور منصفانہ انتخابات کے ذریعہ آنی چاہیے۔
پیپلزپارٹی نے ہمیشہ جوڑ توڑ کے ذریعہ سیاسی تبدیلی کی مخالفت کی ہے اور کرتی رہے گی۔ پارٹی سیاسی انجینئرنگ کرنے کی اور ملک میں مذہبی نسل پرستی تھوپنے کی ہر کوشش کی مخالفت کرتی رہے گی۔ پارٹی یہ عہد کرتی ہے کہ غیر منتخب افراد اور اداروں کو عوام کے اختیارات غصب کرنے کی مزاحمت کرے گی۔ سابق صدر نے پارٹی کارکنوں کو ہدایت کی کہ وہ پارٹی کا امید اور ظلم وجبر سے نجات کا پیغام پھیلائیں۔ خاموش اور مایوس عوام کو روشن صبح کی نوید دیں۔ انہیں بتائیں کہ وہ آگے آکر پارٹی کی حمایت کریں تاکہ ان کے خواب شرمندہ تعبیر ہو سکیں۔ آگے آنے والے چیلنجز کا سامنا کرنے کے لئے خود کو تیار کریں۔ کارکنوں کی کامیابی قسمت میں لکھ دی گئی ہے۔ آج اس موقع پر ہم پارٹی لیڈروں اور کارکنوں کے ساتھ ساتھ تمام سیاسی کارکنوں جنہوں نے جمہوریت کی تاریخی جدوجہد میں حصہ لیا ہے اور قربانیاں دی ہیں کو خراج عقیدت اور خراجِ تحسین پیش کرتے ہیں۔ جس وقت جمہوری کارکن ڈکٹیٹرشپ کے خلاف جدوجہد کر رہے تھے تو ریاستی اداروں میں ایسے لوگ بھی تھے جو ڈکٹیٹروں کے سامنے سر تسلیم خم کر رہے تھے، ان سے وفاداری کا حلف لے رہے تھے اور ڈکٹیٹروں کو جواز فراہم کر رہے تھے۔ یہ بات ہمارے کارکنوں کو ممتاز کرتی ہے اور ان کی قربانیاں مزید نمایاں ہو جاتی ہیں۔ پارٹی ان تمام جری اور بہادر کارکنوں کو ان کے عزم و ہمت اور قربانیوں پر سلام پیش کرتی ہے۔ ان کی قربانیوں کے بغیر پارٹی آج ممتاز مقام نہیں حاصل کر سکتی تھی۔
https://mediacellppp.wordpress.com/2017/11/29
پاکستان پیپلز پارٹی کے50سالہ ایک منفرد جدوجہد
پی پی پی پر زوال اس وقت آیا جب اس نے حکومت میں اپنی مدت پوری کی اور کچھ بھی ڈلیور نہ کرسکی۔ آج پی پی پی اور اس کے نوجوان رہنما بلاول بھٹوزرداری کیلئے سب سے بڑا چیلنج پارٹی کی ’تجدید‘ہے، جو ذوالفقارعلی بھٹو اور بے نظیر بھٹوجیسے رہنماوں کے بعد اپنی شان کھوچکی ہے۔ اگر موجودہ لیڈرشپ اپنی غلطیوں سے سیکھنے کے قابل ہوگئی اورسندھ میں گُڈ گورننس کا ریکارڈ قائم کرلیا جہاں یہ کئی سالوں سے اقتدار میں ہے تو پیپلز پارٹی آنے والےوقت میں قومی سطح پر جگہ بنانے میں کامیاب ہوجائےگی۔ سیاسی چالوں سے حکومت سازی کرنا ایک الگ چیز ہے اور مخصوص اصولوں پرپارٹی کو منظم کرنا ایک الگ بات ہے۔ معلق پارلیمنٹ کی صورت میں سابق صدر آصف علی زرداری اپنا کردار ادا کرسکتے ہیں لیکن کیا وہ پی پی پی کے ہزاروں کارکنوں کا دل جیت سکتے ہیں خاص کر پنجاب اور خیبر پختونخوا میں جو اب پارٹی کے ساتھ نہیں ہیں۔ جس چیز پر اب عمل کیاجارہاہے 70اور80 کی دہائی میں اس سے پارٹی کے نظریات مختلف تھے، اور زوال کی وجہ ’بنیادی دستاویز‘ سے ہٹنا تھی۔ یہ سچ ہے کہ کوئی بھی شخص ہروقت شاندار ماضی سے جڑا نہیں رہ سکتا، لیکن اس سے کچھ سبق تو سیکھ سکتاہے۔
آج پی پی پی اس پرہچکچاہٹ کا شکار نظر آتی ہے کہ ترقی پسند، آزادخیال اور جمہوری نظریات کو لے کرچلے یا قدامت پسندانہ خیالات کے ساتھ آگے بڑھے اور خود کو دائیں بازوں کے رجحانات کے ساتھ ڈھال لے۔ مصلحت کے نام پر سمجھوتا کرے یا بنیادی اصولوں کے ساتھ کھڑی رہے۔ آصف زرداری نے 2007 میں بلاول کو چیئرمین بنا کر ان کے ساتھ ناانصافی کی ، جب وہ اتنے سمجھدار نہیں تھے۔ اب وقت ہے کہ پی پی پی- پارلیمنٹیرین کی قیادت کیلئے سینئررہنمائوں کےبارے میں غورکیاجائے۔ اس سے پارٹی کے ورثے کو جمہوری خطوط پر استوار کرنے میں مدد ملے گی۔ پی پی پی نے گزشتہ 50سال میں چند شاندار سیاسی ذہن اور پارل یمنٹیرینزپیدا کیے ان میں فرحت اللہ بابر، رضا ربانی، آفتاب شعبان میرانی، اعتزاز احسن، قمرزمان کائرہ اور کئی دیگرشامل ہیں۔ بلاول کے لیے ایک اور چیلنج یہ ہوگا کہ ہرمعیار کے مطابق پاکستان کے مقبول ترین رہنما اپنے نانا ذوالفقارعلی بھٹوکےورثے کوکیسے جاری رکھیں گے، ملک کے بدترین فوجی ڈکٹیٹرجنرل ضیاءالحق کے خلاف ان کی جدوجہد مثالی تھی۔ پی پی پی کی طاقت ہمیشہ سے اس کے پُرعزم اور مضبوط کارکن ‘جیالے’ ہیں، ان میں ہزاروں نے پارٹی اور بھٹوسے محبت میں اپنی جانیں بھی قربان کی ہیں۔ آج بلاول پارٹی میں نہ اس طرح کا جذبہ اور نہ ہی اس طرح کے جیالے پیدا کرسکتے ہیں، جو ‘جیئےبھٹو’ کے نعرے لگاتے ہوئے سولی چڑھ جائیں، کوڑے برداشت کریں اور لاہور قلعے میں بدترین تشدد برداشت کریں۔ ان کیلئے پی پی پی اور بھٹو ایک ’ رومانس‘ تھا۔ بھٹوکی پھانسی کے بعد انھوں نے خود سوزی بھی کی، کچھ نے خودکشی بھی کرلی تھی۔ یہ ایک طرح سے ‘منفرد جدوجہد’ تھی کہ اس کے رہنمائوں اور کارکنوں نے بد ترین تشدد، پھانسیاں، کوڑے اورقید بردا شت کی اور حتیٰ کہ کارکنوں نے اپنے رہنما کی محبت میں خود سوزی کرلی تھی۔ پاکستان کی سیاست میں صرف ایک جماعت جو فخرسےدعویٰ کرسکتی ہے کہ اس کے کارکنوں سے لے کر رہنمائوں تک سب نے ملک میں آئین اور جمہوریت کی بالادستی کیلئےقربانیاں دیں، یہ پاکستان پیپلز پارٹی ہے
جس نے 30نومبر2017کو اپنے پچاس سال مکمل کیے۔ پی پی پی کے بانی ذوالفقار علی بھٹونےخود ٹرائل کا سامنا کیا اور انھیں پھانسی دے دی گئی جسے ان کے بدترین نقاد بھی ‘عدالتی قتل’ قرار دیتے ہیں۔ ان کی بیٹی بے نظیربھٹو نےٹرائل، قید، جلاوطنی کاسامنا کیااور بالآخر قتل کردی گئیں۔ بیگم نصرت بھٹو جنھوں اپنے خاوندکی گرفتاری کے بعد خود قیادت سنبھالی اور ایک بیگم اور ماں کے طور پرصدمہ برداشت کیا۔ مرتضیٰ بھٹو کوایک پُراسرار ‘مقابلے’ میں ماردیاگیا۔ پی پی پی 1973 کےآئین کے اور پاکستان کے ‘نیوکلئیر پروگرام’ کی بانی ہونے کا فخر سے دعویٰ کرسکتی ہے۔ بھٹو کی چند اندرونی پالیسیوں پر تنقید کی جاسکتی ہے لیکن حقیقت یہ ہے کہ دوتہائی اکثریت حاصل کرنے کے باوجود اہم معاملات میں وہ اپوزیشن کو ہمیشہ ساتھ لے کرچلے، ان میں ایک آئین سازی اور دوسرا شملہ معاہدہ شامل ہیں۔ اگربھٹو بلوچستان اورخیبر پختونخوا(سابق صوبہ سرحد) میں نیشنل عوامی پارٹی کی حکومتیں ختم کرنےکےجال میں نہ پھنستے تو آج سیاست مختلف ہوتی۔ پارٹی کا زوال اتنا ہی المناک ہےجتنی اس کی قربانیاں۔ بے نظیرکے بعد کی پی پی پی کی لیڈرشپ کو کچھ نہ کرنے پر اپنی ذمہ داری قبول کرنی چاہیئے۔ جس پارٹی پراپنی تشکیل کے پہلے20سال کے دوران کبھی کرپشن کا الزام نہیں لگا تھا، کئی سمجھوتے کرنے پر اس پر زوال آگیا، ان میں این آر او بدترین تھا۔ پی پی پی کے خلاف مبینہ طور پر اسٹیبلشمنٹ کی جانب سے کئی بڑی سازشیں بھی کی گئیں۔ پی این اے سے آئی جے آئی تک، مڈنائٹ جیکال سے مہران بینک تک ، پی پی پی کو 1970کےبعد کبھی دوتہائی اکثریت نہیں لینے دی گئی۔ حتیٰ کہ سازش کرنےوالوں نے تسلیم کیا اوراور بہادری سے اپنے موقف کا دفاع بھی کیا کہ 1988 میں انھوں نے پی پی پی کو مکمل فتح حاصل کرنےنہیں دی اور 1990کے انتخابات میں دھاندلی کیلئے اپوزیشن میں رقم تقسیم کی۔ کبھی بھی آئین اور اپنے حلف کی خلاف ورزی کرنے پرکسی سازشی کاٹرائل نہیں کیاگیا۔ 30نومبر کو لاہور میں ڈاکٹرمبشرحسن کی رہائش گاہ پر بننے والی جماعت نے اپنی گولڈن جوبلی راولپنڈی میں منانے کا فیصلہ کیاہے کیونکہ ذوالفقار علی بھٹواور بے نظیربھٹو اسی شہر میں شہید ہوئےتھے۔ پی پی پی انقلابیوں اور جاگیر داروں کا حقیقی امتزاج تھی۔ بھٹو خود ایک جاگیردارتھے لیکن ان کا سارا سیاسی طرزِ عمل قومی اور بین الاقوامی سیاست پرمکمل کنٹرول کےساتھ ترقی پسندانہ تھا۔ انھیں عوام میں تقریرکرنے اور بین الاقوامی اجلاسوں میں خطاب کرنےمیں ملکہ حاصل تھا۔ اگر ایک طرف پی پی پی میں مرحوم جےاےرحیم، مرحوم شیخ رشید، ڈاکٹر مبشرحسن، مرحوم معراج محمد خان، مرحوم شیخ رفیق، مرحوم معراج خالد جیسے لوگ شامل رہے، تو دوسری جانب اس میں مخدوم طالب الإمحلہ، مرحوم غلام مصفطیٰ جتوئی، ممتاز علی بھٹو، غلام مصطفیٰ کھرجیسے جاگیردار بھی شامل رہے۔ پی پی پی کی جدوجہد کو پانچ ادوار میں تقسیم کیاجاسکتاہے۔ (1) 1967 سے1970تک (2) 1972سے 1977تک (3) 1978سے 1988تک (4) 1988سے2007تک (5) 2008سے2017 تک۔ پی پی پی کا پہلا دور اس وقت مکمل ہوا جب شیخ مجیب الرحمان کی عوامی لیگ کے بعد دوسری بڑی جماعت بن کر ابھری۔ 1970کےانتخابات کےنتائیج نے ملک کو تقسیم کردیاتھا کیونکہ نہ عوامی لیگ مغربی پاکستان سے کوئی سیٹ جیت سکی اور نہ ہی مشرقی پاکستان سے کسی جماعت نے سیٹیں حاصل کیں۔ اس سے پی پی پی کےتین سال کاپہلا دور ختم ہوگیااور دوسرادور اس وقت شروع ہواجب جنرل یحیٰ خان نے اقتدار بھٹوکےحوالےکیا، ایک سنجیدہ آئینی خلا میں اور ان کے پاس 1972 میں پہلےسویلین مارشل لاء ایڈمنسٹریٹر بننے کے سواان کےپاس کوئی اور راستہ نہیں تھا۔ پی پی پی کا دوسرادور سازشوں، بدانتظامی، میڈیا پر اور پارٹی کے اندراور باہر مخالفین پر دبائو ڈالنے کے گرد گھومتاہے۔
https://jang.com.pk/print/411874-todays-print
Wednesday, November 29, 2017
PPP 50 — years on — II - Long Live Bhuttoism!
In 1972 with Jinnah’s truncated Pakistan, its once powerful army writhing in pain and shame of humiliating defeat, it would have been easier than done for the leaders of smaller provinces where nationalist forces had already raised their head of defiance, to declare independence encouraged by the establishment of Bangladesh.
They would have been at once given recognition by the erstwhile Soviet Union, India and Bangladesh followed by many others including dozens of ‘brotherly’ Muslim countries. Bhutto Sahib appealed to the collective wisdom of the elected leaders of Balochistan, KP and Sindh to remain united for commonality of interest for survival in a region which shall always remain a bone of contention for super and regional powers either for its warm waters or for sitting at the mouth of the Gulf.
We were lucky to have leaders who could understand the gravity of the situation and in the spirit of collective weal the 1973 constitution was passed unanimously. It resolved the most-thorny issue of provincial autonomy. Despite Article 6 General Ziaul Haq committed act of treason, judicially murdered ZAB and held in abeyance transference of concurrent list to the provinces by1983 as enshrined in the Constitution.
Himalayan credit must be given to the PPP jiyalas for keeping alighted the flame of democracy in the darkest period of our history. When her husband had been murdered by Zia, Begum Nusrat Bhutto aided by her daughter Benazir garnered an opposition parties alliance — the Movement for the Restoration of Democracy (MRD), burying their egos, to confront Zia’s dictatorship. Since Bhutto’s province — Sindh had taken upon itself the lead role, PPP and its supporters suffered most deaths and injuries, its people were singled out for genocide by Ziaist troops, his scotch earth policy destroyed one village after another.
On this, its 50th birthday — the PPP must re-enforce its commitment to secular democracy, constitutionalism, rule of law and a more vigorous reiteration for the socio-political and economic empowerment of the people irrespective of caste, creed, colour or gender
Whatever, Zia had to surrender. First he held party-less elections, appointed Muhammad Khan Junejo as Prime Minister who cleverly nibbled his powers and brought about a crack in his constituency by appointing General Aslam Beg as Vice Army Chief without Zia knowing it. And Junejo would have sealed his fate and that of his coterie by exposing the mega corruption by President Zia and his generals by publishing the highly explosive findings of Federal Interior Minister Aslam Khattak Commission’s in the Ohjiri Arms Depot disaster of 1988 — much similar to that of Nuclear Supermarket under General Pervez Musharraf. General Zia dismissed Junejo fearing his impeachment.
In his most recent statement that he was proud of PPP for its correct conduct in the challenges circumstances and mysteriously engineered dharnas by the clerical brigade, ongoing tussle between convicted prime minister and the Supreme Court, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto has definite reasons to feel pride that his party has remained unaffected by the temptations of the ‘Chamak’ master who was known for staging a judicial coup in 1997. It has done well to be cautious of the ‘engineers’ too. Though his party and its leaders have been at the receiving end of the highest judiciary yet they had not defied its decisions-howsoever biased. PPP’s Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani created history and not Nawaz Sharif, by resigning when he was convicted for contempt.
Pholan Devi and her ‘hum-nawa’ are projecting PML-N as an anti-establishment party despite being two-in-one — both in opposition and government. They cry hoarse in decrying PPP and accusing it of being switched over on the side of Establishment. No party has as strong and credible anti-establishment credentials as PPP.
If he were to get another chance to live in Saroor Palace, he should take with him his party and have a dip in the scented swimming pool to give a strong veneer of perfumery to cover up their stink as well. I feel PPP did right in not bailing out Nawaz again since his and Pholan Devi’s diatribe against judiciary is not for saving democracy but his and his family’s vested interests. He got trapped in the cobweb of his lies with no way out accept the current suicidal course to destroy the edifice of democracy painfully raised brick by brick by PPP.
I could go on regarding his anti-democratic role since his Zia-engineered advent in politics in the early eighties to this day, how he was funded and propped up by ISI under Gen Hameed Gul in 1988 to stem Benazir Bhutto’s landslide, under General Aslam Beg and his ISI chief General Asad Durrani — again to stop PPP in 1990. And the story continues. In 2013 too PPP was denied its rightful vote though PPP questioned the poll result but did not reject it to sustain continuity.
On 50th year of its foundation PPP must re-enforce its commitment to secular democracy, constitutionalism, rule of law and more vigorous reiteration for the socio-political and economic empowerment of the people including less privileged irrespective of caste, creed, colour or gender. I was shocked and hurt on the failure of political parties — excluding PTI and those whose collaborative views are well known — to raise their voice against blackmail. The clerical dharna, the abuses and hate language used by their leaders in their speeches needed to be widely telecast live 24/7 so that the nation knows who the real enemy of Pakistan is. By muting their x-rated ‘galam-galooch’ and blocking their vitriolic telecasting — the government has not done any service to democracy as a matter of fact TV channels have done a great disservice.
Whoever engineered nearly three-week long dharna paralysing the Federal Capital with the motive of pressurising the judiciary to let Nawaz & Co go off the hook or to create such a law and order condition that the army would be forced to intervene — has been well-commented upon by the Islamabad High Court Judge Mr Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui who questioned the legal authority for army’s intervention to broker a deal between PML-N government and the dharna parties.
It is regretted that both the PML-N government and military establishment were either conniving with them or were afraid of a violent reaction. On the surface of the matter both the Interior ministry and the Defence allowed the clerics to mock at the writ of the state. I would share the view that since army was involved in combating terrorism, it should have treated the miscreants who blocked the roads as terrorists and should have punished them accordingly.
#PPPGoldenJubilee - Bhutto’s most outstanding achievement — Part-1
By - Wajid Shamsul Hasan
Once I was asked what was Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s most outstanding achievement. No doubt he left indelible imprints on the sands of time. As an admirer of Bhutto Sahib since my college days I could have easily said — his charismatic personality was too fascinating for the youth of the day — his dare, his swashbuckling style, his love and commitment for Quaid’s Pakistan and his courage and defiance against odds made him our hero.
Later in the years the more I came to know of him, the more enamouring his multi-faceted personality dawned on me. He was a statesman par excellence, his oratory held his contemporaries in awe in the United Nations defending Pakistan or speaking his populist language he moved millions of shirtless, down trodden masses in Karachi’s Nishtar Park or Lahore’s Moochi Gate into hitherto unknown ecstasy.
I was with him in Simla in 1972. It was significant for me on two counts. I was introduced by him to his ‘Dearest Daughter’ who would be leader of Pakistan, to live and die like him. Secondly, it was historically land mark event to witness an upright leader of a vanquished nation with 93,000 generals and soldiers rotting in Indian PoW camps, with over 12000 kilometres of its territory under the Indian occupation lost on the battle front — negotiate with honour with the victor — Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi riding high on the crest of popularity.
Negotiations with Mrs Gandhi were as difficult as any war could be yet the two great leaders — as equals — came out with an agreement that has given peace to our region for over 45 years. It was his masterly stroke of statesmanship and diplomatic skill that convinced Mrs Gandhi that it would be in the interest of peace to end being hostage to communal history, acrimonies of the past to seek peaceful co-existence. Infinite wisdom and burying of distrust by the two leaders needs to be emulated even now to bring to an end snake and ladder relationship. We should get onto a trajectory crossing uncertainties to usher in peace and harmony for the good of 1.5 billion half starved, shirtless and shelter-less masses of the two-nuclear powers.
Negotiations with Mrs Gandhi were as difficult as any war could be yet the two great leaders — as equals — came out with an agreement that has given peace to our region for over 45 years. It was his masterly stroke of statesmanship and diplomatic skill that convinced Mrs Gandhi that it would be in the interest of peace to end being hostage to communalism and other acrimonies of the past and to seek peaceful co-existence instead
I believe whether it was astounding success of diplomacy at Simla or Bhutto Sahib’s defiance of the Americans despite being threatened to be made ‘horrible example’ in pursuit of nuclear technology for Pakistan — each one was his great achievement second to none. However, as a student of history and politics, I had a different view of his unparalleled contribution in the form of his gigantic struggle for the empowerment of the masses and socio-economic change for seminal developments for the greatest good of the largest number.
His establishment of Pakistan Peoples Party in association with like-minded Left-of-the-Centre friends at a time when country was straight-jacketed in the stranglehold of a powerful rightist establishment representing forces of status quo including the well-entrenched feudal class and the bigoted mullahs -would no doubt be recorded as his singular achievement in the archaic politics of Pakistan.
Bhutto Sahib, being of sharp mind, an admirer and follower of the Quaid from his students days, having keenly studied his politics and raison d’être for Pakistan knew what direction to take. From the outset he sought answer to the fact as to why a pure Indian nationalist Jinnah having resisted for long, opted finally for Pakistan.
His establishment of Pakistan Peoples Party in association with like-minded Left-of-the-Centre friends at a time when country was straight-jacketed in the stranglehold of a powerful rightist establishment representing forces of status quo including the well-entrenched feudal class and the bigoted mullahs -would no doubt be recorded as his singular achievement in the archaic politics of Pakistan.
Bhutto Sahib, being of sharp mind, an admirer and follower of the Quaid from his students days, having keenly studied his politics and raison d’être for Pakistan knew what direction to take. From the outset he sought answer to the fact as to why a pure Indian nationalist Jinnah having resisted for long, opted finally for Pakistan.
ZAB traced the plight of Indian Muslims in the roots of 1857 revolt that changed the power and socio-economic structure rendering Muslim ruling class and others into “hewers of wood, drawers of water”. He found that tug-of-war between Hindus and Muslims was not related to religion. It pertained to economic causes, Muslims outnumbered by Hindus in every field, no jobs, not much of education, in matter of wealth too poor to match. They could not compete even if they were the best.
Bhutto , A thorough-bred nationalist, known as Ambassador of Hindu Muslim Unity — Jinnah Sahib tried his best to bring around Nehrus (father and son) to an equitable formula for peaceful co-existence. His 14-points sought maximum autonomy for the Muslims in their majority areas and reserved quotas for jobs, education etc. where in minority. His proposal for keeping India united was rejected by Indian Congress.
Bhutto sahib knew that it was over the issue of autonomy and economic disparities that India was divided. And when Sheikh Mujib raised his 6 points, he wanted to resolve the issue through debate but Ayub with Altaf Gauhar has been the master planner — he would not let Bhutto Sahib go to East Pakistan. Once battle had been lost by the generals and Bhutto handed over power as legitimate representative of West Pakistan, he got to resolve the autonomy issue that had seeds for future implosion. And indeed, to this date Constitution of 1973 has proved to be stronger unifying and binding force than religion itself.
General Zia believed in strong centre, divide and rule. In order to counter PPP and Benazir Bhutto, he ‘engineered’ ethnic and sectarian parties. Thousands of PPP workers and leaders starting from Bhutto Sahib, Begum Bhutto, Benazir Sahiba, her two brothers — theirs was a struggle strewn in blood, toil and tears confronted by General Zia by raising brigades of ethnic and sectarian forces to counter PPP’s democratic march. Zia engineered much like today ethnic groups to divide PPP’s power of the people and to push back to burner issue of provincial autonomy in context of Pakistan with five provinces and resource sharing between centre and the federating units. Either General Zia did not deliberately or inadvertently understand the gravity of issue that had led to the partition of India in 1947 and later break up of Pakistan in 1971.
#PPPGoldenJubilee - Zulfikar Ali Bhutto!!!! - (January 5, 1928-April 4, 1979) - Bhutto still rules hearts and minds
By: M Waqar
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The possibility of the secular, democratic Pakistan that he had in mind, like Pakistan 's founder, Jinnah has earned ZAB the title of Quaid-i-Awam . Z. A. Bhutto has still more charisma than any politician in Pakistan. Mr Bhutto was inducted into office as the President of Pakistan in 1971 and was removed in 1977, both events took place around midnight; one in the wake of a war and the other in the shadow of a civil war. In between he gave the country what even his sympathizers and admirers would concede was a 'strong' government, he mobilized his country's first mass-based political party around a socialist ideology and highly independent foreign policy. Pakistan's modernizer Zulfikar Ali Bhutto left deep footprints in the sands of history.
He gave voice to the voiceless and power to the powerless of the country. He helped them shape their own destiny and the destiny of their country. He was a man of honour who gave honour and raised the honour of his country and his people. He was able to do this because the people of the country from Khyber to the shores of the Arabian sea in Karachi loved him and supported him. Bhutto brought back 90,000 prisoners of war, prevented their war crime trials and also restored the territory lost on the battlefield. 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 Ramazan war broke out, he sent Pakistan's military to defend the borders of the Muslim countries, including the Golan Heights of Syria. ZAB's short life of 50 years was spent in the service of many international, regional and national causes. The most important and the most enduring legacy of the Quaid-i-Awam was raising the consciousness of the people for democracy. He awakened the masses, making them realise they were the legitimate fountainhead of political power. He enlightened the farmer, the industrial worker, the student, the woman and the rest of the common people of their importance and of their right of franchise, which is the definite means of bringing changes for the betterment of the lives of the common people. Z. A. Bhutto's rule brought a transformation of Pakistan's rules of the game, a new populist style of governance, a new governmentality, he favoured a much more active role of the state in relation to society, he reshaped the economic and political landscape of Pakistan. He reached out to masses, aroused their feelings and disciplined their minds. The role of Bhutto family in the uplifting of the poor is unforgettable.
The last chapter of his life is a glorious example of martyrdom for the cause of resurrection of democracy. At the time of his overthrow, Bhutto was emerging as a spokesman of the World of Islam and the leader of the Third World. The age of Bhutto was an Age of Revolution, he was the architect of the China Policy, Pakistan Steel Mill, Agriculture Reforms. Although his life and career were cruelly terminated, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto will forever shine in history 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. He could have easily entered into a deal, as others did, at the cost of principles, to save his life and move out. How cruel it strikes to bring down such a sincere leader like Bhutto with rare caliber, competence and integrity, Bhutto never colluded with generals, he confronted them. Mr. Bhutto remains a memorable figure . He commanded the allegiance of millions of people inside Pakistan, across the Muslim world and in the Third World as a hero of the people. His leadership gave pride to his followers, to his Nation and to oppressed people everywhere. He conquered the hearts of a Nation through supreme qualities of leadership, vision, intellectual breadth, charisma, dauntlessness, bravery, boldness and a programme for political redemption of an exploited people, he built the foundations of education and industrialization in the country. 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. The Taliban, the terrorist groups and the new war against terror are the direct result of the overthrow of the modernizing government of Z. A. Bhutto and its replacement by a clique of military officers that cynically used the name of religion to promote their own illegal stay in power. Quaid e Awam was murdered but his memory lives on in the monuments he built. It lives on in his ideas. And it lives on in the hearts of all men and women who believe that humanity can only progress when there is tolerance, freedom, dignity and equal opportunity for all. Pakistan survived due to the leadership of a bold and courageous leader, a people's leader, who had the vision to break the shackles of poverty to emancipate his people and lead them into a new decade of glory, strength and achievement. Quaid e Awam built the most modern schools, colleges, universities, professional colleges, vocational training institutes, including Quaid-e-Azam University, Allama Iqbal Open University, Chandka Medical College and many others. He built hospitals to take care of the sick and poor. He opened the way for the middle classes to develop and prosper in the fields of medicine, engineering , law and other specialist studies. He introduced peaceful nuclear energy to help treat cancer setting up the first cancer treating institutes in the four provinces of Pakistan. He built roads in the tribal areas and the Northern areas knowing how poor and oppressed people in the distant areas of Pakistan were. Internationally, using his experience as Foreign Minister, he hosted the Islamic Summit Conference in Lahore. It was at this conference that the Palestinian Liberation Organization was recognized as the authentic voice of the Muslims. He advocated closer relations with the Muslim countries arguing for a common economic bloc with banking and other financial institutions long before regional blocs became identified as the economic way forward. Bhutto pushed politics out of the posh drawing rooms into real Pakistan - into the muddy lanes and villages of the poor. Bhutto's inspiring leadership filled Pakistanis with hope, energy and strength.
Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, knew that there can be no sacrifice greater than the sacrifice for the people whose respect, honour and dignity is the respect and dignity of the Nation. Quaid e Awam made the people proud of themselves and of their Nation. The 20th century has seen many great leaders, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto is one of them. Due to his glorious achievements, Mr. Bhutto rules the hearts of the Pakistani people from his grave. He was not only the leader of Pakistan, he was the leader of an Islamic world, the leader of Third World. He will forever be remembered by his countrymen as Quaid-e-Awam. As his followers say, "Zinda Hai Bhutto, Zinda Hai"--Bhutto lives, he lives. Indeed he does, in the hearts of all those who dream of a better tomorrow.
Long Live Bhuttoism….
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The possibility of the secular, democratic Pakistan that he had in mind, like Pakistan 's founder, Jinnah has earned ZAB the title of Quaid-i-Awam . Z. A. Bhutto has still more charisma than any politician in Pakistan. Mr Bhutto was inducted into office as the President of Pakistan in 1971 and was removed in 1977, both events took place around midnight; one in the wake of a war and the other in the shadow of a civil war. In between he gave the country what even his sympathizers and admirers would concede was a 'strong' government, he mobilized his country's first mass-based political party around a socialist ideology and highly independent foreign policy. Pakistan's modernizer Zulfikar Ali Bhutto left deep footprints in the sands of history.
To his lasting credit remains the 1973 Constitution of the country, the Shimla Accord of 1972 which brought the longest peace between India and Pakistan, the social reforms to build an egalitarian society, the non-aligned foreign policy, the nuclear programme and the building of the social, economic and military infrastructure of the country. He was a thinker, author and orator. He was deliberate, discreet, and competent; honest, upright and keeper of his covenants. He was a friend of the poor, downtrodden and oppressed. Fearless in his beliefs he refused to bow before any man or power other than the Almighty. His courage was such that he preferred to face death for his beliefs and embraced martyrdom. He had profound faith in freedom and the liberation of humanity. Under his government, Pakistan gave overt and covert support to the African nations than under apartheid and minority rule. He rejected fanaticism. He gave pride to the poor.
He gave voice to the voiceless and power to the powerless of the country. He helped them shape their own destiny and the destiny of their country. He was a man of honour who gave honour and raised the honour of his country and his people. He was able to do this because the people of the country from Khyber to the shores of the Arabian sea in Karachi loved him and supported him. Bhutto brought back 90,000 prisoners of war, prevented their war crime trials and also restored the territory lost on the battlefield. 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 Ramazan war broke out, he sent Pakistan's military to defend the borders of the Muslim countries, including the Golan Heights of Syria. ZAB's short life of 50 years was spent in the service of many international, regional and national causes. The most important and the most enduring legacy of the Quaid-i-Awam was raising the consciousness of the people for democracy. He awakened the masses, making them realise they were the legitimate fountainhead of political power. He enlightened the farmer, the industrial worker, the student, the woman and the rest of the common people of their importance and of their right of franchise, which is the definite means of bringing changes for the betterment of the lives of the common people. Z. A. Bhutto's rule brought a transformation of Pakistan's rules of the game, a new populist style of governance, a new governmentality, he favoured a much more active role of the state in relation to society, he reshaped the economic and political landscape of Pakistan. He reached out to masses, aroused their feelings and disciplined their minds. The role of Bhutto family in the uplifting of the poor is unforgettable.
Z A Bhutto is the first person in Pakistan who has given voice to the common people. Z. A. Bhutto remains alive in hearts of millions of Pakistanis. It was a miracle that in less than half a decade a defeated nation had become a significant entity in the comity of nations. Pakistan had friends all around the globe from Africa to the far corner of Asia and from Europe to South America. We were regarded as a nation which had proved itself. Pakistani manpower was exported in the Middle East and the statesmanship of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto had started bearing fruit. Under Z A Bhutto's rule, a new vision of Pakistan was born. Within a few years of the defeat in 1971, Pakistan began to see itself not as some beleaguered non-entity in South Asia, as the Indian establishment was prone to see it, but as a strategically located middle-sized power straddling the two worlds of South and West Asia, uniquely poised to take advantage of a host of geopolitical possibilities and enjoying widespread support among the Islamic states. He is one of the few Pakistani leaders that energized the nation and gave it a sense of optimism. Z A Bhutto, saw the future of Pakistan.
Like Jinnah he outwitted Indira Gandhi at Shimla and formed alliances with various world leaders, from Sadaat, to Boumediene to Qaddafi to Faisal. Pakistan survives today because of those alliances that enabled him to build the Nuclear bomb. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto understood the geo-political realities of the region. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto has earned a place in the pantheon of leaders from the Third World who earned everlasting fame 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, Ahmed Soekarno, Chou-en Lai, Gamal Abdel Nasser and Salvador Allende. During the period between the end of the Second World War and the end of the Cold War, the world was divided into two blocs: The Capitalist West and the Socialist East. All these leaders aspired to aspects of a socialist pattern of economy. Bhutto shared their faith in a leading role for the public sector as an instrument of self-reliance. Bhutto's foundation of the PPP was a setback for the reactionary forces in a country long dominated by the Right. The slogan of "Food, Shelter and Clothing" shifted the focus of Pakistan politics from theological to economic issues. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto had the courage of his conviction to decide to lay down his life rather than compromise or seek appeasement.
There was a sense of purpose and direction in the country in pursuit of peace and prosperity. The economic growth rate increased and money poured in from expatriates who got the universal right to passport. The Muslim countries donated roughly $500 million annually to Pakistan, freeing it of international financial institutions. The people got jobs and opportunities. Women of the country were emancipated entering the police force, Foreign, Civil Service and subordinate judiciary for the first time in the country's history. There is a story that the American President John F. Kennedy was much impressed with the 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". Z A Bhutto, was highly skilled negotiator and an international statesman, he secured the agreement between USSR and Pakistan, he signed an agreement with China on demarcation of the Sino-Pak boundary. When he became President, Pakistan had innumerable problems, but he was not a man to be cowed down by knotty problems, he was in fact, a dynamo of inexhaustible and boundless creative energy, he was born to solve problems , he had to tackle the problems of shattered country by a methodical system of fixing priorities. Bhutto the adroit politician and statesman tackled the difficult problems of his country one by one with devotion, determination and patriotic zeal and solved them successfully. Since his assumption of power this great man of vision and destiny, equipped with resolute will, extraordinary intelligence and seething patriotic zeal fought successfully against the landlords, capitalists, industrialists, religious fanatics, corrupt bureaucrats, saboteurs, foreign intriguers and spies, he stood like a rock against all odds and achieved national unity, he worked hard for the emancipation of the exploited working class and illiterate masses. His cruel and barbaric murder by military despots caused revulsion across the globe, Z A Bhutto dedicated his life to remove the sorrows from the hearts of the poor and the oppressed, to remove the tears from the children of his poor nation. He lived consciously to make history and to leave a legacy in the form of the development of his nation, his fight was a fight against the policies of IMF, which serve to perpetuate the backwardness of the developing nations.
Bhutto is rightfully credited with saving Pakistan at this dark moment in its history, as French President Giscard d'Estaing said, "he was the man who incarnated Pakistan at a dramatic hour of its history. Tolstoy in the last volume of his War and Peace expressed that history is a movement of ideas in which political leaders play a minor role. Sometimes the movement of ideas is indeed rapid. Yet, at times, the movement of ideas is slower than the melting of the glaciers. The movement of ideas is facilitated in a vibrant political and democratic culture, which gives room for dissent and disagreement. In dictatorial societies, history remains static in a cold freeze. And so it was in Pakistan before Quaid-i-Awam. He was the one who converted that static and decayed dictatorial polity into a vibrant and dynamic democratic society; the cost of which he paid with his own life. He who gave his blood, and the blood of his sons and daughter,
Long Live Bhuttoism….
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