- Political career from shahadat to shahadat
Resistance and reconciliation are two concepts which, though rooted in history, still find relevance in present day politics. As a matter of fact, resistance is an act to defy oppression in any form in a state or a society while reconciliation is a composite step to proceed despite all types of ills in a society. History has prolific examples relating to resistance and reconciliation. In ancient times, we find Socrates resisting the traditional approach even at the cost of his life. He was offered to escape his fate but he preferred reconciliation to the prevalent law and let his life be taken. In the recent past; Nelson Mandella was the man who was the paragon of resistance in his earlier part of life but opted for reconciliation later just to fend off a blood-spattered clash in his country. Mohatarma Benazir Bhutto’s terrestrial life (1953-2007) is a beautiful blend of resistance and reconciliation: resistance to gun holders while reconciliation with the aspirants of peace.
Her father taught her politics of resistance keeping in view the multicultural society of Pakistan. However, resistance was at the back of his mind while teaching politics of reconciliation to his gifted political heiress who had been an eye witness to the last days of the Ayubian period, where her father touched the summit of excellence when he resisted against the dictatorial regime.
Benazir’s resistance started with the arrest of her father, the man behind the nuclear bomb, who got 90,000 prisoners of war released from India, hosted OIC summit at Lahore, got approved Constitution 1973 from National Assembly during his premiership and even sacrificed his life for the nation. At that time, her father Zulifiqar Ali Bhutto entrusted the leadership of this nation to Benazir Bhutto who fulfilled her responsibility even at the cost of her life. She was well aware of the designs of her enemies after the Karsaz blast, but like a true leader she refused to back out of the promise she made to her father for the safety and security of the nation. Like father, like daughter.
After her father’s fateful shahadat, she started her resistance against three groups such as the then military junta, monopolists and capitalists. At the same time, she liked to tread the path of reconciliation with political forces. She helped form and joined the Movement for Restoration of Democracy (MRD) which had been a historically populist political alliance, formed to oppose and end the military government of President General Zia-ul-Haq. MRD included Abdul Wali Khan, Molana Mufti Mehmood and Nawab Nusrallah Khan who had been the political rivals of her father but Benazir Bhutto liked to join them in political struggle against the dictatorial regime of Zial ul Haq. This is the best example of reconciliation in the start of her political career. In 1988, her party formed government in center despite all types of leg-pulling and hypocrisy.
After coming into power, the lady prime minister started resistance against the India’s illegitimate rule and state terrorism in Kashmir. After a long, long time, the Kashmir issue was highlighted and started pricking the world consciousness once again.
She also supported resistance against Israeli oppression and invited Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat to Pakistan. It was she who got international recognition to All Parties Hurriat Conference (APHC) which is an alliance of 26 political, social and religious organisations formed on March 9, 1993, as a united political front to raise the cause of Kashmiri freedom. She tried her level best to establish reconciliation with rivals in establishment too. For instance, she awarded Tamgha Jamhooriat to Gen Aslam Beg who did not impose martial law after plane crash of dictator Zia ul Haq. Benazir Bhutto, forgetting the past, did not hesitate to have a handshake with the rivals for the cause of state, and, thus changed the direction of her resistance against the oppression on the world stage. Within the state, she offered resistance too but only at dialogue level.
Her father taught her politics of resistance keeping in view the multicultural society of Pakistan
At that time, Nawaz Sharif was the establishment’s blue eyed boy. She demonstrated her resistance against him but never closed the door of reconciliation. Her resistance was against his dictatorial attitude but doors for parliamentary discussion remained open. She also made a wonderful balance between resistance and reconciliation while dealing with MQM’s militant and political wings. The launched operation against the former while held talks with the latter.
In the same way, she started her resistance against General Musharraf when he took over. On the other hand, she supported dialogue with the world to avoid clash of civilisations. She opposed and condemned Taliban while trying to prevent the USA from embarking on war which was destructive for the region.
Later on, she opted for talks with General Musharraf — not to get benefits or premiership but for the removal of his uniform. By getting Musharraf to agree, she really did a great job which all the religious and political leaders couldn’t despite their best efforts. For this purpose, she held a meeting with Musharraf and convinced him to do so. The propagandists try to give other meanings to reconciliation but history itself has separated the truth from falsehood. With NRO, Benazir paved the way for democracy in the country. The political rivals fail to understand this simple thing.
History has proved the efficacy of Benazir Bhutto’s policy as she opposed the Afghan war, efforts for access to warm waters and making this world unipolar. She also opposed military intervention and ‘chamak’ in judiciary. Some judges gave verdicts against Benazir Bhutto on phone calls from power corridors. However, her opposition always remained limited to persons and never sputtered anger against state institutions. It would not be wrong to say that her resistance and reconciliation was for state only.
Now, gun slingers of all kinds are still united against Pakistan Peoples Party and its leadership since they are afraid of Benazir Bhutto’s legacy, her son, her husband, her ideas, her philosophy, her party and her party workers. We need to learn that the path to progress will be clear if we are logical in deciding just who is to be resisted or reconciled with. Obviously, the state has to resist the gun holders while striking deals with political forces. This is the only way to go ahead, for the state and the stakeholders.
