Leading politicians, analysts, journalists pay tribute to Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto on her 62nd birthday
Hinting at former dictator Gen (r) Pervaiz Musharraf, former president and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari on Sunday said that “all murderers of PPP’s slain leader Benazir Bhutto have gone except for one former general.”
He was addressing at the 62nd birth anniversary celebrations of former prime minister Shaheed Benazir Bhutto at Naudero. Earlier, Zardari arrived at Garhi Khuda Bakhsh from Naudero via helicopter along with daughter Bakhtawar Bhutto Zardari and Prime Minister Azad Kashmir Chaudhry Abdul Hamid.
Zardari paid a visit to Benazir Bhutto’s mausoleum and recited prayers after laying wreath. He went back to Naudero via road after that where birthday celebration of the slain prime minister was arranged.
Talking to the participants, Zardari said in his address that Bhutto had nominated people she believed would harm her in her life, adding that all but one of the murderers are gone.
Meanwhile, Bilawal spoke of his mother in terms of her efforts against dictatorial regimes. “She lives and died for her people and the country,” he said, adding, “Her father Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto gave the nation nuclear power and she founded missile system to make defense of Pakistan invincible, though both accepted martyrdom.”
The great leader was born on June 21, 1953 and to mark her birthday, several functions have been arranged in this regard. Large number of PPP leaders and workers gathered at Garhi Khuda Bakhsh from across the country to pay tribute to their Shaheed leader, who was assassinated on December 27, 2007 in Rawalpindi.
Special prayers and recitation of the Holy Quran was also held at Bhutto House in Naudero where the iftar dinner was also arranged. A 62-pound cake was also cut to mark the birthday. Senior PPP leaders attended the event.
BENAZIR REMEMBERED:
On BB’s 62nd birthday, Pakistan Today talked to the leading politicians, analysts and journalist who paid tribute to the undisputed ‘Daughter of the East’.
Leading politician and PPP’s senior leader Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan said that he will always remember the great leader for three qualities, i.e. her constant urge to reach the masses; her always being willing to take on Herculean challenges; and lastly, her ability to forgive and embrace even her enemies. “These three qualities made her a superhuman which took her to tragic, yet heroic death,” said Ahsan.
Acclaimed political economist, Mobeen Chughtai told Pakistan Today that the primary difference one can draw between Shaheed BB and every other mainstream politician occupying the parliament today, is that this woman was neither intellectually bereft nor intellectually dishonest.
“Yes, in the heyday of her seat at office she made mistakes, maybe blunders. However, they have to be seen, not in isolation, but as markers in a personal evolution, a personal journey of the sorts. She was a woman who grew up being “Pinki” Bhutto, having all the luxuries and entitlements bestowed upon her, generously, by destiny,” said Chughtai.
“To living the life of an exiled princess, to returning as a conqueror, to being sidelined again by a thirsty establishment, to return, yet again, carrying all the lessons she had learned in these years through internal re-evaluation. To being inches from “the throne” and… dying, just like that,” he added.
Chughtai maintained that it is a tragedy of almost Greek proportions if you think about it. However, when all is said and done, it is her iron will and conviction in herself and her flock that made the Benazir Bhutto, who died that miserable day, who she was.
Senate Chairman Mian Raza Rabbani said that Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto sacrificed their lives for the rights of the poor masses of the country and for the restoration of democracy with its true essence in the country.
“It is none other than Shaheed BB who gave political awakening to the people of the country,” said Rabbani.
Democratic systems may be strengthened under the vision of BB and PPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari who adopted the policy of reconciliation in the larger interest of people of the country.
“We are duty bound to carry forward the mission of BB and serve the people in every nook and corner of Pakistan. Because, she sacrificed her life for the poor people of the country and the democracy,” said Rabbani.
Political analyst Marvi Sirmed told Pakistan Today that she has always looked up to BB for inspiration. “Not only me, all the women around me, who were otherwise thorough Muslim League supporters, used to find reassurance and strength from her being at the top,” she said of the late Bhutto.
Sirmed maintained that she still remember that rare tinge of victory in her grandmother’s eyes when they watched BB taking oath on TV in 1988. She had voted for Muslim League, however.
“The body language that my mother had, who was a staunch PML supporter, suddenly changed after BB became prime minister. Ammi was now standing chin up, like a victor,” said Sirmed.
“That’s how her being there changed the lives of ordinary women just by being there… Apart from the revolutionary steps like economic empowerment of women through skill development, easy credit though establishing First Women Bank, establishment of Women’s Police Stations, launching of massive LHW program, women‘s political and social empowerment through their greater role in her party and through signing CEDAW,” said Sirmed, adding that all had far reaching effects on women’s status in Pakistan.
Sirmed said, “I wonder what we – the ordinary women – would have been like had BB did not come to power. I miss her badly even today.”
Journalist Munizae Jahangir recalled that in 2007, BB was the only leader who foresaw the serious threat of extremism. “Benazir Bhutto met some journalists in Lahore, during the emergency imposed by General (r) Pervaiz Musharraf. At that time, she expressed some serious concerns about the uprising of militants in Swat,” said Jahangir.
Political analyst, Dr Hassan Askari Rizvi told Pakistan Today that BB, throughout her political career, taught and advocated political accommodation and tolerance. “Her life was the journey of a young woman who struggled hard to become a leader,” said Rizvi.