Saturday, April 4, 2020
#ZindaHaiBhuttoZindahai - کون فنا اور کون زندہ ہے؟
بشارت راجہ
بھٹو کو یقین تھا کہ ان جیسے رہنما کو کوئی فوجی آمر پھانسی لگانے کی جرأت نہیں کرسکے گا جبکہ ضیا الحق کو یقین تھا کہ ان کی بقا بھٹو کی فنا میں ہے۔
’مسٹر بھٹو ہم تمہیں ایک عبرت ناک مثال بنا دیں گے۔‘
اپنی بات کی مزید وضاحت کرتے ہوئے انہوں نے ایک اور مثال دی۔
’مسٹر بھٹو! جب سامنے سے ریل گاڑی آتی دکھائی دے تو عقل مند آدمی پٹڑی سے ہٹ جاتا ہے۔‘
ذوالفقار بھٹو نے صرف مسکرانے پر اکتفا کیا اور ڈاکٹر ہنری کسنجر کو اپنا موقف منوائے بغیر واپس جانا پڑا۔
بھٹو اور امریکی وزیر خارجہ ڈاکٹر ہنری کسنجر کے درمیان ہوئے اس مکالمے کو سابق چیف آف سٹاف ڈی جی آئی ایس آئی بریگیڈیئر (ر) سید احمد ارشاد ترمذی اپنی کتاب ’حساس ادارے‘ میں تحریر کیا ہے۔ وہ لکھتے ہیں کہ 9 اگست 1976 کو امریکی وزیر خارجہ ڈاکٹر کسنجر نے لاہور میں بھٹو سے ایک خصوصی ملاقات کی تاکہ پاکستان کو ایٹمی ٹیکنالوجی کے حصول اور فرانس سے ایٹمی ریپروسسنگ پلانٹ کے سودے سے روکا جا سکے۔ حالانکہ اس وقت تک پاکستان فرانس سے ایٹمی پلانٹ کے حصول کے لیے باقاعدہ معاہدہ کر چکا تھا اور عالمی جوہری توانائی اتھارٹی کو اس ضمن میں تمام تحفظات کی ضمانت دے چکا تھا۔ اس ملاقات کے دوران کسنجر کو بخوبی اندازہ ہو گیا کہ بھٹو کا فیصلہ اٹل ہے اور وہ ہر حال میں پاکستان کو ایٹمی قوت بنانا چاہتے ہیں۔
ذوالفقار بھٹو پاکستان کے پہلے منتخب وزیر اعظم تھے۔ انہوں نے جب اقتدار سنبھالا اس وقت پاکستان شدید ترین بحران سے گزر رہا تھا۔ پاکستان کا وجود پارہ پارہ ہو چکا تھا۔ زخموں سے خون رس رہا تھا۔ پاکستانی قوم کے حوصلے پست تھے۔ قوم کی نظریں بھٹو پر جمی ہوئی تھیں۔ انہیں یقین تھا کہ بھٹو اپنی ذہانت اور کرشماتی شخصیت کی بدولت پاکستان کو بحران سے نکال لیں گے۔ بھٹو نے قوم کی امیدوں کو ٹوٹنے نہیں دیا۔ انہوں نے اپنے تئیں ایک دم توڑتے نظام کے وجود میں نئی روح پھونکنے کے لیے بعض انقلابی اصلاحات کا اعلان کیا۔ مایوسی اور نامرادی کے اندھیروں سے امید کی کرن پھوٹنے لگی۔
بھٹو خود خارجہ پالیسی کے ماہر تھے۔ ان کی کامیاب خارجہ پالیسی کی بدولت پاکستان کو بہت جلد قوموں کی عالمی برادری میں کھویا ہوا اعزاز واپس مل گیا۔ اپنی ذہانت اور منصوبہ بندی سے وہ اسلامی اور تیسری دنیا کے متعدد ممالک کی پالیسیوں پر نہ صرف اثرانداز ہو رہے تھے بلکہ ان کی کوشش تھی کہ تیسری دنیا ایک قوت بن کر ابھرے اور روس اور امریکہ کے مقابلے میں اپنے مفادات کی خود حفاظت کر سکے۔
بھٹو کی سرگرمیوں نے علاقے میں امریکی مفادات کو سخت گزند پہنچانا شروع کر دیا تھا، جس کی وجہ سے عالمی اسٹیبلشمنٹ نے مقامی کو ساتھ ملا کر بھٹو کو اقتدار سے معزول کرنے کا منصوبہ بنایا۔
بریگیڈیئر ترمذی رقم طراز ہیں کہ اس بات میں کوئی ابہام باقی نہیں تھا۔ متعدد سفارت کار بھٹو کے خلاف اس مہم میں نہ صرف ملوث تھے بلکہ اس کی مکمل نگرانی بھی کرتے تھے۔ لاہور میں امریکی قونصلیٹ جنرل کے سیاسی آفسیر جین این گہن کا کردار اس حوالے سے خاصا فعال تھا۔ کئی مقامی رہنما ان کی بھرپور امداد کر رہے تھے۔ خاص طور پر جماعت اسلامی کے رہنما مودودی اور شیرانوالہ گیٹ کے جمعیت اسلام کے رہنما مولانا عبید اللہ نور کے ساتھ جین نے مسلسل رابطوں اور ملاقاتوں کا اہتمام کر رکھا تھا۔
یہ جین ہی تھا جس نے لاہور سے اسلام آباد میں امریکی سفارت خانے کے چیف آف پولیٹکل آفیسر مسٹر ہاورڈ بی شیفر کو یہ پیغام دیا تھا کہ ’پارٹی ختم ہو گئی مال لٹ گیا۔‘ جس کے جواب میں بھٹو نے مشہور جملہ کہا تھا: ’پارٹی ابھی ختم نہیں ہوئی یاد رکھو ہاتھی کے کان بہت لمبے ہوتے ہیں۔‘
جس رات ضیا الحق نے مارشل لا لگایا اور بھٹو کو اقتدار سے نکال باہر کیا اس کے بارے میں الطاف حُسین قریشی اپنی کتاب ’ملاقاتیں کیا کیا‘ میں لکھتے ہیں کہ میرے سوال کے جواب میں ضیا الحق نے کہا کہ جس رات مارشل لا لگانا تھا لاکھوں خدشات اور ہزاروں وسوسے تھے۔ یہ اندیشہ بھی تھا کہ ان کے منصوبے کا اگر کسی کو علم ہو گیا تو کچھ بھی ہو سکتا ہے۔ یہ راز چند افراد تک محدود تھا۔
خیال کی ایک لہر اُٹھی ضیا تم کہیں غلطی پر تو نہیں؟ کیا تم پاکستان کو مارشل لا سے بحفاظت گزار سکو گے؟ ’میں نے وضو کیا اور خشوع وخضوع سے نماز ادا کی اور ایسی لذت محسوس کی جو پہلے کبھی میسر نہ ہوئی تھی۔ قریشی صاحب میری زندگی میں آپ کو قناعت اور درویشی نظر آئے گی۔ اللہ تعالیٰ نے مجھ پر اپنی رحمتوں کی بارش کی اور اعلیٰ منصب عطا کیے۔ اللہ تعالیٰ نے مجھ سے وہ کام لیا جو یقیناً ایک قابل فخر کارنامے کے طور پر یاد رکھا جائے گا۔
’میں جمہوریت پر غیر متزلزل یقین رکھتا ہوں۔ فوجی حکومت ایک طرف انتہائی ناگزیر مرحلہ ہے اسے زندگی کا معمول نہیں بنایا جا سکتا۔ ہم اقتدارِ پر قابض رہنے کے لیے نہیں اقتدار منتقل کرنے کے لیے آئے ہیں۔ عام انتخابات انشاءاللہ 18 اکتوبر کو ہوں گے۔ خدا اور پوری قوم کے ساتھ عہد کیا ہوا ہے اسے پورا کرنے کی ہر ممکن کوشش کروں گا۔ میری دعا ہے اللہ تعالیٰ ہمیں بصیرت و قوت عطا کرے اور ہر قدم پر رہنمائی کرتا رہے۔ بھٹو کے ساتھ آئین اور قانون کے مطابق انصاف کیا جائے گا۔‘
بریگیڈیئر ترمذی لکھتے ہیں کہ جن دنوں پاکستان سپریم کورٹ میں نواب محمد احمد خان کے قتل کے الزام میں لاہور ہائی کورٹ سے دی جانے والی سزائے موت کے خلاف ذوالفقار علی بھٹو کی اپیل زیربحث تھی ان کے ایک دوست، جسے یو ایس آئی ایس کے ٹیلکس روم تک رسائی تھی، نے مجھے most urgent کا خصوصی کوڈڈ پیغام بھجوایا۔ پیغام کی اہمیت کو سمجھتے ہوئے فوری طے شدہ جگہ پر پہنچا۔
راولپنڈی کے راجہ بازار سے جا کر دوست سے آنکھوں ہی آنکھوں میں گفتگو کی۔ اس نے ایک کاغذ ریڑھی پر رکھے کوٹ کی جیب میں ڈال دیا۔ میں نے فوری وہ کوٹ خریدا اور پرچہ لے کر قریب کاپی شاپ پر پہنچا۔ فوٹو کاپی کروا کر اصل اسے واپس کیا۔ دفتر پہنچ کر جب اسے ڈی کوڈ کیا تو مجھے پڑھ کر شدید حیرت ہوئی کہ واشنگٹن سے پاکستان میں اپنے دفتر میں یہ ہدایت دی گئی کہ بھٹو کو پھانسی کے تختے تک پہنچنا یقینی بنایا جائے۔ اس پیغام میں بعض جنرلز کی ریٹائرمنٹ اور تبادلوں کی بھی ہدایت تھی۔
بھٹو صاحب کو یقین تھا اور اعتماد بھی کہ ان جیسے بین الاقوامی حیثیت اور اہمیت کے حامل لیڈر کو کوئی فوجی آمر پھانسی لگانے کی جرأت نہیں کرسکے گا۔ جبکہ جنرل ضیا الحق کو یقین تھا کہ ان کی بقا بھٹو کی فنا میں ہے۔ پھر حالات نے جنرل ضیا الحق کے حق میں فیصلہ دے دیا۔
سقراط کو جب زہر کا پیالہ دیا گیا تو وہ ہنس پڑا۔ اس کے شاگردوں نے پوچھا استاد محترم، موت آپ کے سر پر منڈلا رہی ہے زہر کا پیالہ پی کر آپ مر جائیں گے اور آپ ہنس رہے ہیں۔ سقراط نے جواب دیا: کون کہتا ہے کہ میں مر جاؤں گا۔ گلی کوچوں، چوک چوراہوں اور درسگاہوں میں میرے دیے گئے درس جب تک باقی رہیں گے میں زندہ رہوں گا۔ مریں گے یہ حکمران جو مجھے زہر پینے پر مجبور کر رہے ہیں۔ آج کئی ہزار سال گزرنے کے بعد بھی سقراط زندہ ہے اور باقی گمنام ہیں۔
بھٹو نے شاید سقراط کو پڑھ رکھا تھا۔ اس لیے انہوں نے معافی نامے پر دستخط نہیں کیے۔ چار اپریل کا سورج نکلا تو اسلامی دنیا کی ایک عظیم شخصیت اور پاکستانی سیاست کا چمکتا ہوا چاند ہمیشہ ہمیشہ کے لیے زندگی کے منظر سے اوجھل ہوچکا تھا۔ مگر تاریخ میں زندہ ہے اور انہیں دار پر لٹکانے والوں کی قبریں آج بھی ویران ہیں۔
#ZindaHaiBhuttoZindahai - نسلیں کیوں بھٹو کو یاد کرتی ہیں
تحریر: منصور شاہانی (صدر پی ایس ایف سندھ)
ذوالفقار علی بھٹو 5 جنوری 1928 میں پیدا ہوئے، ذوالفقار علی بھٹو انتہائی ذہین، اعلی تعلیم یافتہ، انتہائیذوالفقار علی بھٹو کے دل میں عوام کے لیئے بے حد احساس اور انکی زندگیوں میں تبدیلی لانے کا جذبا تھا، جہاں پاکستانی عوام بے بسی اور لاچاری کی زندگی گذار رہی تھی وہاں بھٹو من ہی من میں پاکستان کے مزدور، کسان اور طلبہ کی بہتری کے لئے منصوبے بنا رہا تھا۔ شہید ذوالفقار علی بھٹو نے وہ کارنامے سرانجام دیئے جو پاکستان کے آنے والے کئی نسلوں کے لیئے باعث فخر ہے۔
شہید ذوالفقار علی بھٹو کے کچھ عظیم کارنامے جو تا قیامت زندھ رہینگے،
شہید ذوالفقار علی بھٹو نے اپنی دور حکومت میں ہونے والی اصلاحات میں بھاری صنعتوں کو قومی تحویل میں لیا، بنکوں، انشورنس کمپنیوں اور پرائیوٹ تعلیمی اداروں کو قومی تحویل میں لے کر انہیں جاگیرداروں اور سرمائیداروں کے چنگل سے آزاد کیا۔
زرعی اصلاحات، عوام کو سستی ٹرانسپورٹ اور خوراک سمیت بنیادی مراکز صحت کا قیام اور غریبوں کے لیئے بجٹ کا 43 فیصد مختص کیا، پاکستانی عوام کو شناخت دینے کے لیئے قومی شناختی کارڈ بنوائے۔
ملک میں جھموریت کے استحکام، تسلسل اور پسے ہوئے طبقات کو حقوق دینے کے لیئے پاکستان کو متفقہ آئین دیا۔
ملک کو مضبوط کرنے کے لیئے پاکستان کو اٹامک پاور بنایا، تیسری دنیا کے ممالک اور مسلم امہ کے اتحاد کی کوشش کیا، کشمیر کی آزادی کے لیئے اقوام متحدہ میں کشمیر کے مسئلے کو اجاگر کیا جو آج تک کوئی لیڈر نہیں کر سکا۔
یہ وہ کارنامے ہیں شہید ذوالفقار علی بھٹو کے جو پاکستان کے آنے والے کئی نسلیں یاد رکھیں گی، آج پاکستان کا ہر پیدا ہونے والا بچا ذوالفقار علی بھٹو کا قرض دار ہے اور اس صدی کی نوجوانوں نے نا بھٹو کو سنا ہے ناہی حقیقی زندگی میں شھید بھٹو سے ملے ھیں لیکن پھر بھی پاکستان کے ہر نوجوان کو یہ لگتا ہے کے ذوالفقار علی بھٹو ہمیں جانتا ہے اور وہ زندھ ہے، وہ اس لیئے کے بھٹو ایک سوچ، فکر اور فلسفے کا نام ہے، یوں تو بھٹو کو گذرے ہوئے 41برس ہوئے ہے لیکن پھر بھی ہر نوجوان کو لگتا ہے کے یہ کل ہی کی بات ہے، جیسے ذوالفقار علی بھٹو نے کہا تھا کے “عوام اور بھٹو کا سلسلہ یہ ہے کے خوشبو پھول سے جدا نہیں ہو سکتا، مچھلی پانی سے جدا نہیں ہو سکتا ویسے ہی بھٹو عوام سے جدا نہیں ہو سکتا”۔
مجھے فخر ہے کے میں اس پارٹی کا ایک ادنا سا کارکن ہوں جس پارٹی کے لیڈر نے اپنے عوام کے لیئے اپنے خاندان کو قربان کردیا۔
آج 41برسی کے موقعے پر میں قائد عوام شہید ذوالفقار علی بھٹو کو خراج تحسین اور خراج عقیدت پیش کرتا ہوں اور یہ وعدہ کرتا ہوں کے جب تک اس جسم میں سانس چلتی رہیگی میں آپکے بہادر نواسے، چیئرمین پاکستان پیپلزپارٹی بلاول بھٹو زرداری کا سچا سپاہی بن کر اپنی پارٹی، عوامی پارٹی، پیپلز پارٹی کی خدمت کرتا رہونگا۔
شہید ذوالفقار علی بھٹو کے کچھ عظیم کارنامے جو تا قیامت زندھ رہینگے،
شہید ذوالفقار علی بھٹو نے اپنی دور حکومت میں ہونے والی اصلاحات میں بھاری صنعتوں کو قومی تحویل میں لیا، بنکوں، انشورنس کمپنیوں اور پرائیوٹ تعلیمی اداروں کو قومی تحویل میں لے کر انہیں جاگیرداروں اور سرمائیداروں کے چنگل سے آزاد کیا۔
زرعی اصلاحات، عوام کو سستی ٹرانسپورٹ اور خوراک سمیت بنیادی مراکز صحت کا قیام اور غریبوں کے لیئے بجٹ کا 43 فیصد مختص کیا، پاکستانی عوام کو شناخت دینے کے لیئے قومی شناختی کارڈ بنوائے۔
ملک میں جھموریت کے استحکام، تسلسل اور پسے ہوئے طبقات کو حقوق دینے کے لیئے پاکستان کو متفقہ آئین دیا۔
ملک کو مضبوط کرنے کے لیئے پاکستان کو اٹامک پاور بنایا، تیسری دنیا کے ممالک اور مسلم امہ کے اتحاد کی کوشش کیا، کشمیر کی آزادی کے لیئے اقوام متحدہ میں کشمیر کے مسئلے کو اجاگر کیا جو آج تک کوئی لیڈر نہیں کر سکا۔
یہ وہ کارنامے ہیں شہید ذوالفقار علی بھٹو کے جو پاکستان کے آنے والے کئی نسلیں یاد رکھیں گی، آج پاکستان کا ہر پیدا ہونے والا بچا ذوالفقار علی بھٹو کا قرض دار ہے اور اس صدی کی نوجوانوں نے نا بھٹو کو سنا ہے ناہی حقیقی زندگی میں شھید بھٹو سے ملے ھیں لیکن پھر بھی پاکستان کے ہر نوجوان کو یہ لگتا ہے کے ذوالفقار علی بھٹو ہمیں جانتا ہے اور وہ زندھ ہے، وہ اس لیئے کے بھٹو ایک سوچ، فکر اور فلسفے کا نام ہے، یوں تو بھٹو کو گذرے ہوئے 41برس ہوئے ہے لیکن پھر بھی ہر نوجوان کو لگتا ہے کے یہ کل ہی کی بات ہے، جیسے ذوالفقار علی بھٹو نے کہا تھا کے “عوام اور بھٹو کا سلسلہ یہ ہے کے خوشبو پھول سے جدا نہیں ہو سکتا، مچھلی پانی سے جدا نہیں ہو سکتا ویسے ہی بھٹو عوام سے جدا نہیں ہو سکتا”۔
مجھے فخر ہے کے میں اس پارٹی کا ایک ادنا سا کارکن ہوں جس پارٹی کے لیڈر نے اپنے عوام کے لیئے اپنے خاندان کو قربان کردیا۔
آج 41برسی کے موقعے پر میں قائد عوام شہید ذوالفقار علی بھٹو کو خراج تحسین اور خراج عقیدت پیش کرتا ہوں اور یہ وعدہ کرتا ہوں کے جب تک اس جسم میں سانس چلتی رہیگی میں آپکے بہادر نواسے، چیئرمین پاکستان پیپلزپارٹی بلاول بھٹو زرداری کا سچا سپاہی بن کر اپنی پارٹی، عوامی پارٹی، پیپلز پارٹی کی خدمت کرتا رہونگا۔
#ZindaHaiBhuttoZindahai #PPP - Zulfikar Ali Bhutto: The Man Who Was In A Hurry
By Murtaza Solangi
There are many people who live long. There are many people who cross their eighties and enter nineties. Some even cross the century mark. How many people do we remember who made it to their nineties? Not many. At the end of the day, it is all about what they did and achieved in their lifetime. Some on the contrary have very few years in their physical life but leave an indelible mark in history. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was one of them.
Born into a feudal aristocratic family of Bhuttos, the Rajputs of Rajasthan who had migrated into northern Sindh many centuries ago, he was a spoiled brat of his dad, Sir Shah Nawaz Bhutto.
In his twenties, he had finished his education from the universities of Berkeley, California and Oxford, had started teaching law at S.M. Law College Karachi and had setup his law firm in the city and started his law practice.
He was only 23 years old when he married Nusrat Isfahani in 1951. That was his first love marriage, but she was his second wife as Sir Shah Nawaz Bhutto had gotten him married to Shireen Amir Begum in 1943 when Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was only 15 years old; a secondary school going kid.
It was the Karachi social circle of the elites that got Zulfikar Ali Bhutto into the power circles since Karachi was the federal capital then. Begum Naheed Isfahani and Begum Nusrat Isfahani (who later became Bhutto’s spouse) were friends. That is how he got connected to Iskander Mirza who became Pakistan’s first president after the first coup detat of 1958 with Ayub Khan as the defence minister. Bhutto became the commerce minister at the age of 30.
Despite his aristocratic upbringing, Bhutto got infected with the values of liberal democracy, egalitarianism and socialism during his education in the US and the UK. As a young man interested in politics, he could have either chosen the path of Che Guevara or gotten involved in the politics in vogue. He chose the latter.
Like many young people, he chose the path of getting into the system and tried to change it from within. He was closer to Iskander Mirza and Ayub. They liked his finesse, education, western flavour and style. He liked being part of the power elite. For a while it looked like a marriage written in heaven. It did last for a while. The 1965 war was a watershed moment. He didn’t like the way Ayub Khan handled post-war issues with India at Tashkent. He resigned from the cabinet, was hounded by Ayub Khan for a while and dragged in fictitious cases like the use of government tractors on his private land. He even languished in Mianwali jail for a while when he wrote a letter to his beloved nephew, Tariq Islam, explaining what he wanted to do for Pakistan.
He went to UK to think it through. Many intellectual giants of that era suggested to him to launch a new political party. Socialism and anti-colonial national liberation movements defined that era, hence he got closer to the same lot. Jalaudin Abdur Rahim, popularly known as J.A Rahim, then foreign secretary, a graduate of Dhaka and Calcutta University, a Bengali communist and people like Dr. Mubashir Hassan, Meraj Mohammad Khan, peasant leader Sheikh Rasheed and many more got closer to Bhutto then. This is how upon his return, J.A. Rahim helped him write the first foundation document of the party at the house of Dr Mubashir Hassan on the Thursday afternoon of November 30, 1967. He was only 39 years old when he founded the PPP and J.A Rahim was the first party secretary general. He named it as the Peoples Party. Interestingly, his father Sir Shah Nawaz Bhutto had helped form the Sindh Peoples Party when Zulfikar was only six years old.
A youthful politician from an aristocratic family, a dethroned minister, educated overseas, raising leftist slogans, quoting world philosophers, intellectuals and legends of the arena in his interactions and speeches was a big hit. That was the genesis of the young charismatic populist politician, a charisma he retained till he kissed the gallows in Rawalpindi.
A quintessential and voracious reader, Zulfikar Bhutto was a known insomniac. He would probably sleep only a couple of hours and was more of a workaholic machine. In Rawalpindi, as a federal minister, he remained busy in understanding the statecraft of Pakistan. His daughter Sanam, born in Rawalpindi, the only Bhutto scion alive once told me about her father, then a young minister once.
“We would ask him what job did he perform? What did he do? He would always say, I am a public servant. So we would pick on him when talking to him. So, Mr Public Servant how are you doing today, we would bother him often,” Sanam revealed to me once.
The Bhutto signature on Pakistan politics is populist politics. Nobody did that in Pakistan before him. The student movement of the last years of 60s, from 66 to 69 bore visible Bhutto marks. He was extremely popular in students. Everywhere Bhutto went, students followed him. But that was the era of peasant and working class movements too. They too galvanized around his party.
Zulfikar Ali Bhutto blended anti-India nationalism with his socialistic slogans making it the most popular party in the Punjab. That is why his party had a landslide in the province. Out of 180 seats in the Punjab Assembly, Bhutto’s PPP had achieved 113 seats. Council Muslim League of Mumtaz Daultana, the party that came second had bagged only 15 seats. Dr Mubashir Hasan remembers the night after the polls closed. He told me that he had gone to sleep at 10 PM as he was too tired after the electioneering. “I woke up around midnight on the ring of the house phone. Bhutto was on the line. He was screaming. What is this Mubashir. I asked him what had happened. Bhutto was wondering how come his party had won so many seats. I told him, you resonated with people’s aspirations and the magic worked. I told him to sleep and let me sleep,” Mubashir Hassan said.
Had the results of 1970 elections been accepted by the drunkard sleazy Yahya Khan’s military regime, Bhutto would be sitting as the Leader of the opposition or if both had worked it out, he might be lording out as the president of Pakistan. That didn’t happen.
The military operation launched on March 25, 1971 broke the country ending in the surrender of Pakistani forces on December 16, 1971. Bhutto and other politicians siding with him were wary of the fact that if six points of Sheikh Mujeeb were accepted, it would not only create a confederation between east and west Pakistan but would give the same autonomy to Sindh, Balochistan and then NWFP on the same lines of the East Pakistan. This was not acceptable to the ruling elites of the Punjab, where Bhutto based his populist politics, as Sindh was not a stronghold of the PPP then. The PPP did not even have a simple majority in Sindh Assembly after the 1970 elections. Out of 60 seats in Sindh Assembly, the PPP of Bhutto had gotten only 28 seats. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto had to persuade some independents like Piyar Ali Allana to join his party to form the government in Sindh afterwards.
It was clear that after the ignominious surrender at the Ramna Race Course Ground in Dhaka on the sad Thursday of December 16, 1971, Yahya Khan had no desire to hand over power to Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. In his speech on the surrender day, aired on Radio Pakistan, Yahya Khan easily discernable as drunk with speech slur quite visible, announced that he wanted to give a new constitution to the country. Justice A. R Cornelius, the only dissenting voice in Molvi Tamizuddin case, was working as the advisor to Yahya Khan and had drafted a new Legal Framework Order to extend the rule of the general. It was the popular revolt within the military ranks that had forced Yahya Khan to hand over power to Zulfikar Ali Bhutto who had returned from the meeting of the UN Security Council in New York.
On Sunday night on December 19, 1971 when Bhutto landed back in Rawalpindi, he was asked to stay in the Punjab House Rawalpindi as the negotiations for the handover of the power between his interlocutor, Ghulam Mustafa Khar, continued.
Agha Nasir, then General Manager PTV Rawalpindi told me that they had standing instructions to get ready to record the speech of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto on Monday, December 20, 1971. We kept waiting all day that cold day, late Agha Nasir had said.
“Finally, we saw Bhutto walking down to us,” he told me once. Bhutto asked Agha Nasir why were there too many people to record. Agha introduced himself, a floor manager, make up people, and two cameramen. Bhutto asked what the floor manager was doing there when the general manager was present. Agha threw the floor manager out. Then, Bhutto asked why two cameras were needed. Agha said he told Bhutto the second camera was a backup camera in case one broke down. “Your camera might break down but I won’t,” quipped Bhutto known for his wit and slapsticks.
Agha Nasir said that Bhutto pulled out a folded piece of paper with notes on it and said, “Let us record.” Agha Nasir said he told Bhutto to get some make up done to cover up the shine on his face. Agha told me that Bhutto who had been travelling had shaved that day. “Make up? What make up? Do you have any idea that I have lost half of my country and you want me to do make up? No makeup. Let us record,” Bhutto said. That is how the first speech was recorded and aired on PTV and Radio Pakistan. Legal experts, he himself was one, told Bhutto that since a president and a Chief Martial Law administrator ruled the country so he had to assume the same position for the power to be transferred to him. That is how he became the president and the first and the last civilian Chief Martial Law Administrator of Pakistan at the age of 43 and within 16 months he was able to give the first unanimous constitution passed by the remaining constituent assembly. That is how he became the prime minister at the age of 45.
In five years of his rule, Bhutto worked day and night. Many old bureaucrats would tell us that he did not believe in summaries of the cases sent to present day rulers. He would demand entire files before issuing orders. And those orders mostly would be many pages long with quotes from history, philosophy and books he would love to read. Many people would tell us that the best bookshops of Pakistan had standing instructions to get the copies of the new arrivals and send them to him. Undoubtedly, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was the most well-read politician ever to rule this country.
We can talk about what was achieved by Bhutto in the five years that he ruled Pakistan some other day but what defined him in the end was his commitment with peaceful parliamentary politics and the courage not to bow before the worst military dictator of Pakistan. He would neither accept exile nor would agree to get any concession from the dictator. There were two attempts to take him out of the country. He declined both.
During his trial in Lahore when he used to be transported from the Kot Lakhpat jail to the Lahore High Court before Molvi Mushtaq, he was offered one. Dr Mubashir Hassan told me that we made a plan to attack the police convoy and kidnap Bhutto and somehow send him out of the country. “When we told the plot to Bhutto, he firmly rejected it,” Dr Hassan said.
The second time, his nephew Tariq Islam gave Bhutto the message of Yasir Arafat just four days before his execution. Tariq Islam visited Bhutto on March 31, 1979 in Rawalpindi jail. He told me that he conveyed the message of Yasir Arafat to agree to be sent out of the country as they planned a commando operation at the jail and take him out of the country. “Convey my thanks to my brother Arafat. Tell him that I appreciate your gesture but would not like to be recorded in history as the runaway politician fearing his death,” Tariq told me.
That pretty much sums up Bhutto’s life. He departed at the age of 51. Had he, the just man, not been killed by an unjust dictator, he would have been 92 years old today. 1092 months exactly. There are many people who are lucky to be alive in that age group but unlucky to have the same grandeur and respect Zulfikar Ali Bhutto commands today.
He was a man in hurry. He finished everything too quick and left us wondering about him. Abraham Lincoln was right. It is not about the years in one’s life. It is all about the life in those years. And what a life he lived!
#ZindaHaiBhuttoZindahai #PPP - The 4th April — A black day in the post-Jinnah Pakistan
We joined the Civil Service Academy on 29 March 1979 – just a few days before the execution of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto which cast a pall of gloom on the premises and drove home the severity of the tyranny unleashed by the military regime to this odd crowd of over hundred funny, merry, serene, resolute, provincial and urban men and women who otherwise breathed jubilantly in dreamy hopes, self-adulatory satisfaction and contagion happiness. This gloom hanged over the atmosphere for long days.
With the rejection of his review petition by the Supreme Court, the mock trial of Bhutto had already reached its culmination. The precious life of this popular leader was effectively in the hands of his tormentor who then had the prerogative either to pluck a tragic leaf from the wretched history of human wickedness, or show gallantry like a true deliverer, taller than his miserable captive. Every rising sun brought in its wake a faint hope as appeals for clemency were endlessly pouring in from world capitals, while despair and hopelessness heavily overcast every falling evening, given the General’s blind rage, hatred and vendetta against the man in the death cell.
On the tragic day, when alone in my room, I gave myself up to my reflections on this tragic drama. Z.A. Bhutto – the most popular and the democratically elected leader of the country; the savior of the defeated and truncated Pakistan; the architect of the unanimous Constitution and the nuclear project; the outstanding leader of the Muslim world – preferred to go to the gallows than to bow and beseech for his life. He chose to live in history, in the hearts of the masses, larger than life, and higher than Himalayas. Like the Greek philosopher Socrates, Bhutto preferred ‘death rather than to say or do anything beneath his dignity’. Both the men did not want to ‘demean themselves’, and to ‘continue living in effrontery and shamelessness’, by lamenting and wailing before their tormenters.
Was Bhutto’s death a life for the General; a breathing space for him to reinforce his grip on power? What about our political leadership of the time? They thought, quite shamelessly, that their political ascendancy lied in the elimination of Bhutto whom they could never defeat in the political arena. His life apart, Bhutto was battling for the supremacy of the Constitution, and the civil courts and the rule of law, while they, as the General had once sarcastically remarked, were rolling in his feet with wagging tails, for a crumb of political power. The sword, pulpit and politics, so to say, were in solemn fraternity to blow off the flame of the life of this man.
This tragic tale of our history signified the defeat of genius by the calculations of an unholy alliance of the obscurant forces emerging from the garrets of status quo, of light by darkness, of freedom by tyranny, of enlightenment by dogmatism, of progress by obscurantism, of advancement by regression. Bhutto was liberal, secular, progressive and involuntarily revolutionary. His foes, steeply enmeshed in religiosity, dogmatism, regression, were voluntarily counter revolutionary and determined to extinguish the light that Bhutto had diffused over this land. They feared the power of the poor masses and the spark of revolution this man was involuntarily radiating.
Bhutto was recalled to power at a sorrowing moment of our history. He had the intelligence, dynamism, resolution and courage to confront this monumental challenge. Moving as a hurricane, he was constantly audible and incessantly visible in picking up the pieces of the broken ship and rebuilding it. He transformed the remainder of Pakistan into a viable and vibrant nation. It was a grand restoration of a broken country, a despondent nation and a dejected people. This elicited acclamation for him from the world statesmen. He was worthy of this acclamation.
Bhutto was recalled to power at a sorrowing moment of our history. He had the intelligence, dynamism, resolution and courage to confront this monumental challenge
His opponents were nowhere comparable to him. The rays of sun know not the flickering light of a candle. Whatever anger, irritation and rancour we may have against him, a mysterious respect and appreciation springs forth from the depth of our soul for this man, if we recall honestly the conditions at the time engulfing our dear land when the Jinnah’s Pakistan stood dismembered; the junior army officers, in the density of their anguish and anger, had revolted against senior General; when our nation, formidably shocked and shaken, was desperately looking for a savior; when predators were looking for an opportune moment to pounce on the wobbling Pakistan. At this depressing juncture of our history, Bhutto was called upon to take power and salvage the remaining part of Pakistan. Bhutto did it with aplomb.
The death of Bhutto was cried over by heroic eyes. Bhutto lost his life but Bhuttoism, his unbreakable romance with the multitudes, survived. Bhutto fallen seemed loftier and mightier than Bhutto erect. Glory does not stem from the sword. It springs forth from the ideas and ideals of leaders that rise in the mien of triumph and defeat the tyranny of the sword that, if in the hand of a tyrant, kills freedom, right, justice and truth. The Bhuttoism and Ziaism were two conflicting phenomena. One was leading us to enlightenment and modernity, the other to obscurantism. The former recognized the Constitution while the latter rubbished it. One was set on throne by popular consent while the other usurped it by force of guns.
While reflecting about this dark spot on our national history, I tried to find solace in the laments of Khalil Gibran who, tormented by a wretched event of this nature, had cried out ‘pity the nation that showers rose petals on its villains but bricks on its heroes’. We hurt the honour and dignity of Bhutto that was more painful than showering bricks on him or his long ordeal in the death cell where he did not have access to treatment of his swollen gums and aching teeth. Times have changed now.
#ZindaHaiBhuttoZindahai #PPP - April 04, 1979: An unfortunate day in history
“Whether he is hanged or he lives the consequences will be far-reaching. He has ruled the politics of Pakistan as President and prisoner. He or his ghost will continue to rule them” wrote Pran Chopra, a noted analyst and commentator in the last book of ZA Bhutto “If I am Assassinated” which was smuggled out from the death cell of the former president, prime minister, who was subjected to “judicial murder” on this day April 04, 1979. The man who gave unanimously agreed constitution to the country was kept in a “stinking death cell”. ZAB is still ruling over the hearts and soul of millions of poor of the country.
Rawalpindi central jail, 0200 hours, April 4, 1979, the judicial murder (as it was termed latter on) of first elected prime minister of Pakistan, chairman of Islamic Conference and architect of the atomic program of Pakistan Mr Zulfikar Ali Bhutto took place. Tara Masih was the hangman. The trial and execution of Bhutto was and even today is the most controversial subject in the history of Pakistan in particular and in the judicial history of world in general.
ZA Bhutto rose to the power corridors from the deserts of Sindh, and after resigning from the cabinet of Ayyub Khan as foreign minister, formed his own political party with the name of Pakistan People’s Party, due to his charismatic personality won the heart of millions of his country man and got majority votes in the 1970 general elections in the Western Wing of the country. After the unfortunate fall of the Eastern Wing, he became the president and Chief Martial Law Administrator on December 20, 1971, with the aim to “Pick up the pieces, very small pieces”. He was the most popular leader, but his government was toppled on July 5, 1977, by the than army chief General Ziaul Haq, and finally on September 3, 1977, ZAB was arrested on the charges of ordering to murder Nawab Muhammad Khan, father of his political opponent Ahmed Raza Kasuri on November, 11, 1974, by the Federal Security force.
The trial started in the Lahore High Court on October 11, 1977 before the full bench of five judges with chief justice Maulvi Mushtaq Hussain, Justice Zaka Uddin Pal, Justice M.S.H Qureshi ,Justice Aftab Hussain and Justice Gulbaj Khan, thus that was the start of one of the most controversial trials in the judicial history of the world.
The verdict of the Lahore High Court was announced on March 18, 1978, with all accused being found guilty and sentenced to death with the remarks in the judgment that Bhutto was a “compulsive liar” which were to be deleted by the Supreme Court order.
The former attorney general of the united States Ramsay Clark is of the opinion that “The chief justice’s prejudice against Bhutto spread throughout 145 pages decision” and in the words of ZA Bhutto himself quote “A Muslim can only prostrate himself before his Creator. But the bench, particularly the chief justice, was always rude, abrasive, and insulting to me .In contrast, the Chief Justice was kindness itself to the confessing co-accused. He smiled at them. He enjoyed their rustic sense of humor at any expense. The taunts the frowns and the shouts were reserved only for me. I was favored with comments to “shut up,” “get up, and “take this man until he regains his senses”.
“In these circumstances to talk of co-operation is to ask for the patience of a saint.”
An appeal was filed in the Supreme Court of Pakistan against the judgment of Lahore High Court on March 25, 1978, to be heard before a full bench of nine judges, which included Chief Justice Anwar Ul Haque, who had publicly referred to General Zia as “a national Savior” {The point Bhutto raised during the trial} Justice Qaiser Khan, Justice Wahiduddin Ahmed, Justice Muhammad Akram, Justice Karam Elahee Chauhan, Justice Nasim Hassan Shah, Justice Durab Patel, Justice G. Safdar Shah and Justice Muhammad Haleem. By the time the appeal trial had started , Justice Qaiser Khan had retired and Justice Wahiduddin Ahmed fell sick. In the words of Stanley Wolpert in “Zulfi Bhutto Of Pakistan” “Yahya Bakhtiar had initially hoped for a 5-4 decision in favor of reversal of high court verdict, counting not only on the three justices who finally voted for Bhutto’s acquittal, but also on justice Wahiddudin Ahmed and Justice Qaiser Khan, with the latter two gone”.
The judgment was delivered on February 6, 1979, with four judges, including the chief justice, upholding the Lahore High Court decision and three judges against.
That was the end of an undisputed leader of the third world, a man who gave this nation and the people the gift of a unanimously adopted and agreed by all the federating units a constitution, who brought all the Muslim countries at one platform and who wanted to “Make a new Pakistan, a prosperous and Progressive Pakistan, a Pakistan free of exploitation, a Pakistan envisaged by the Quaid-i-Azam”.
ZAB is loved and adored by his countrymen whom he gave voice, a voice to stand up for their rights, for justice and equality. His contribution to introducing the spirit of democracy in the country has even been recognized by his worst enemies. He was a man of extraordinary vision and sense of international politics. The first elected prime minister in the world history hanged to death by the dictators and the enemies of the masses having vested interests was Adnan Menderes of Turkey in 1961, who preferred the gallows than to bow before the tyrants. The world community requested the Turkish government in the strongest possible words for mercy. The than president of Pakistan Ayub Khan especially sent his foreign minister Z A Bhutto to Turkey , ZAB met Jamal Gurcel to plead the case of Adnan Menderes, but Gurcel was of the view that hanging of Adnan would solve Turkey’s problems. ZAB made it clear to the Turkish strongman that hanging would be the start of unlimited problems for Turkey. History has proved that how far sighted ZAB was, but exactly after 18 years, ZA Bhutto was hanged. The dictator Zia didn’t learn a lesson from the history, as for him his own life and power were far more important than the future of Pakistan. ZAB was not acceptable to the world powers and they wanted to “make a horrible example” of him, simple forgetting that their “horrible example” would turn into a Bhutto legacy, and will live in the hearts of millions for ever. (A warning to ZAB by the than secretary of state US Henry Kissinger, on ZAB’s desire for acquiring atomic technology, which till to date Kissinger has neither denied nor confirmed. Mr Tariq Ali in his book “The Duel” has narrated the complete episode quoting a senior Pakistani foreign office official. Mr Henry Kissinger while warning ZAB had no idea that their “horrible example” would turn into a Bhutto legacy, and will live in the hearts of millions for ever.
ZAB is loved and adored by his countrymen whom he gave voice, a voice to stand up for their rights, for justice and equality
The world leaders of the time would seek his advice on global matters. Oriana Fallaci in her book “Interview with History” recounts him in the words of Dr. Henry Kissinger, as “very intelligent, very brilliant”, agreeing with Ms. Fallaci on the list of world leaders who had impressed her “Primarily on Bhutto”.
During his very short life he made wonders , to list few, permanent constitution, return of ninety thousands prisoners of war, return of vast area occupied by India during the 1971 war, Islamic Conference, starting the atomic program with the promise “to make an atomic bomb even if we have to eat grass”, to introduce Pakistan to the world community as an Independent and proud nation, arranged lucrative jobs for the working class of the country and above all gave voice to the neglected and the poor masses of the country. His body was flown to Ghari Khuda Buksh to be buried in his ancestors graveyard under the cover of darkness, with his wife and Daughter of the East under house arrest and his sons living in a forced exile, and the followers in millions were barred to attend the funeral, the poor of the country, for whom he had gone smilingly to the gallows. As Faiz Ahmed Faiz, has said
Jis dhaj say koi maqtal main gia wo shan salamat rehti hai
Yay jan to ani jani hai, is jan ki koi bat nahin
(With dignity one goes to the gallows, that grace remains forever, this life is immortal, and who cares for this life).
He was a man or iron nerves, very gracefully went to the gallows thus conveying a message in clear and loud words not to bow head before dictators, tyrants and oppressors.
Benazir Bhutto, the eldest daughter of ZAB in her book ‘Daughter of the East’ narrates a meeting with her father when he was facing the so called trial of conspiracy to murder.
“You don’t understand, do you Pinkie?” he said gently. “They are going to kill me. It doesn’t matter what evidence you or any one comes up with. They are going to murder me for a murder I didn’t commit… My life is in God’s hands, not any ones else. I am prepared to meet God whenever He calls me. My conscience is clear. What is important for me is my name, my honor and my place in history. And I am going to fight for it.” ZAB proved to his words. He accepted death smilingly to safe guard his honor and dignity and to leave an everlasting name and a bright place in history.
#ZindaHaiBhuttoZindahai #PPP - The vision of Z A Bhutto
Senator Rehman Malik
History will neither forgive nor forget the murder of a leader who wanted to make us progressive and peaceful, to take us towards national integrity and prosperity by empowering the masses, and by making Pakistan the first Muslim nuclear power in the world. He feared that Pakistan would be exposed to external danger by neighbouring India and therefore announced, “We (Pakistan) will eat grass, even go hungry, but we will get one of our own (nuclear bomb), we have no other choice.”
Bhutto refused to succumb to international pressure to roll back Pakistan’s nuclear programme. Gerald Feuerstein, who was a witness to the meeting between Prime Minister Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger in Lahore in August 1976, admitted in an interview that Bhutto rejected the warning to roll back or compromise Pakistan’s nuclear programme.
Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto was a distinguished leader in the history of Pakistan who imparted the lesson of peace and humanity to the rest of the world.
Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto hurt for his people, country and the Muslim Ummah, and he made history by bringing the Ummah on one platform during the Islamic Summit Conference in Lahore in 1974. He was not only a distinguished national leader but also an unparalleled statesman who revived a broken nation after the disaster of the fall of Dhaka by bringing back 90,000 prisoners of war. The public must know that the enemies of Pakistan decided to eliminate him after he refused the rollback of the nuclear programme despite numerous pressures and threats of making him a “horrible example”.
CIA hatched a plan to block communism, using Islam through General Zia-ul-Haq. He preached his own brand of Islam wherein he promoted extremists, terrorists and all kind of criminals under the name of Jehadis. These extremists and criminal elements were brought and nourished by US in Pakistan for launching them in Afghanistan to operate.
I got an invitation for an official function at the Army House once, but it was this black day in the history of Pakistan, as on this day, the Chief Justice of Pakistan upheld the death sentence of Bhutto. He received many greetings and commendations for his judgment. General Zia-ul-Haq, standing next to the Chief Justice was also receiving greetings from his own created politicians and senior colleagues. They were essentially celebrating the death of a charismatic leader who dreamt of Pakistan leading the world.
They killed and buried Bhutto mysteriously but hid his brave daughter. Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, the first woman Prime Minister of the Muslim world, signified the political rebirth of her father Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto’s legacy. She suffered the most in the hands of Zia-ul-Haq and his remnants but eventually she witnessed the crashing of C-130B Hercules aircraft where even remains of the body of Zia-ul-Haq could not be found. The wrath of Allah Almighty also fell on Justice Moulvi Mushtaq who had awarded death sentence to Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto as well.
As Director FIA, I took it upon myself to look into old files of the judicial murder of Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, where I found some tampered documents. I will soon write a book detailing the conspiracy behind Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto’s ‘judicial murder’, which was carried out through a premeditated plan. General Zia-ul-Haq’s government changed the documents but the entire world declared it a ‘judicial murder’. I appreciate the honesty of the then Director Law of FIA who had clearly stated the shells of the bullets were replaced, witnesses were tampered, and Masood Mahmood was tutored under duress.
General Zia-ul-Haq tried to eliminate Bhuttoism by killing Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto but he still rules the hearts of the people while Zia-ul-Haq was seen as a disgrace in the world. We know almost all those Muslim leaders who participated in the Second Islamic Summit Conference held from February 22-24, 1974 in Lahore died unnatural deaths. Undoubtedly, the killing of all these Muslim leaders cannot be a coincidence but an operation to punish them and to give a message to the Muslim world.
In my humble capacity, I will soon expose those facts which are buried in files from those who are mum. Us PPP workers and President Asif Ali Zardari, filed a reference to Supreme Court but the then Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry did not take it up. I, therefore, appeal to the present Chief Justice to take up this case to vindicate the position of Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto. Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto was a distinguished leader in the history of Pakistan who imparted the lesson of peace and humanity to the rest of the world. He gave voice to the poor and oppressed people of Pakistan and empowered them to stand for their rights. I had the honour to work with three Bhuttos, first with Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, and thereafter Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto – my leader, mentor and sister – followed by Asif Ali Zardari and Bilawal Bhutto Zardari – the only hope for Pakistan’s future. I feel proud to have personal and political association with the Bhutto and Zardari families. Like Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto who carried on Bhutto’s legacy more powerfully and bravely, I find the same bravery, wisdom, vision and far-sightedness in Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.
Bhutto’s ideology was popular throughout the world and he could have saved his life if had compromised with a dictator, which was an impossible notion for a leader of the people. Today, Pakistan is secure only due to Bhutto’s vision. The future belongs to PPP leader Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, as he is the only one who truly has the guts to fill Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto’s boots. Bilawal is the future Prime Minister of Pakistan InshaAllah, and the people can see a Bhutto among themselves once again.
Pakistanis see a ray of hope in Chairman Bilawal Bhutto to pull the nation out of crisis. He is rightly following in the footprints of Z A Bhutto and SMBB and we will soon witness him be successful in his mission.
#ZindaHaiBhuttoZindahai #PPP Nation needs to follow vision of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto: Bilawal Bhutto Zardari
Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has emphasised that the nation needs to follow the vision of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto to face the escalating crisis of the coronavirus and save our people from its looming ravages.
In his message on the 41st martyrdom day anniversary of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, being observed today (Saturday), Bilawal said that true leaders change the destinies of nations and they lead with great determination and vision in times of crises.
The PPP chairman said that following the fall of Dhaka, Pakistan had lost thousands of miles of land to enemy occupation and 90,000 of our soldiers were prisoners of war. “Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto not only got our land and soldiers back, but went on to lay the foundation of our nuclear programme, ensuring our territorial integrity would never be at the mercy of our neighbors again,” he said.
https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/639266-nation-needs-to-follow-vision-of-zulfikar-ali-bhutto-bilawal-bhutto-zardari
#ZindaHaiBhuttoZindahai #PPP Zulfikar Ali Bhutto!!!! - (January 5, 1928-April 4, 1979) The Legend , still rules hearts and minds
BY: M Waqar
January 5, we celebrate birthday of Z A Bhutto, a leader, politician, revolutionary, who after his execution in Pakistan on April 4, 1979, still lives on in the hearts and minds of millions of Pakistanis, and the party that he founded still possesses the largest permanent voting bank in Pakistan. 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.
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. 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,
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….
January 5, we celebrate birthday of Z A Bhutto, a leader, politician, revolutionary, who after his execution in Pakistan on April 4, 1979, still lives on in the hearts and minds of millions of Pakistanis, and the party that he founded still possesses the largest permanent voting bank in Pakistan. 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.
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.
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. 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,
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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