This is with reference to your editorial on this matter. The hanging of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, the undisputed leader of four federating units of Pakistan, was a gross miscarriage and travesty of justice.
It was an act of desperation by a military dictator Zia-ul-Haq, who forced the enactment of this judicial murder on the testimony of an approver. The role of men like Saeed Ahmed who abused their powers is questionable.
Similarly, the shameful role of four judges namely Anwar-ul-Haq, Akram, Naseem Hassan Shah and Karam Elahi Chauhan will forever remain a black spot on our judiciary, which was slave to the wishes of an executive headed by a usurper.
The government’s move to send a reference to Supreme Court to revisit this decision seems to be politically motivated given the manner it has favoured the family members of one of the judges Akram Chaudhry.
Can this government explain why it retained one of his children as Attorney General and selected the other on womens reserve seats as an MNA?
The PPP of today also has to explain its policy to befriend those whom Benazir had nominated to be held responsible in case she was murdered.
Would it not be wise to pursue the murderers of Benazir Bhutto and then forgive them under Islamic Law if it insists on a policy of seeking no revenge? Democracy may be the best revenge, but you cannot have democracy sans justice, transparency and accountability.
Remember that it were ZAB’s followers in Rawalpindi, Peshawar, Multan and Lahore who self-immolated themselves to protest this gross injustice, so why this resort to a Sindh Card, when the acts of this government do not relate to their rhetoric.
The best way to payback Zulfikar Ali Bhutto for his sacrifices for democracy is to have an independent judiciary get strengthened and then revisit this gross miscarriage of justice. ZAB shall live forever in the hearts and minds of the people of Pakistan because he was a man of honour, who had never been implicated in corruption scams.
ANEELA CHANDIO
Sukkur
