People’s Party (PPP) today again reminds the Apex Court with the hope that it may take up the reference filed by the former President Asif Ali Zardari on April 2, 2011 under article 186 seeking rectification of the ‘judicial murder’ of the elected Prime Minister of Pakistan, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto. It is still undecided even after the lapse of almost six years. It may be recalled that one of the Supreme Court judges of the Bench later disclosed that General Zia-ul- Haq pressurised to uphold the death sentence of the PPP leader. The wrong that was committed needs to be corrected as fair trial and dispensation of justice are at stake.
Today is the blackest day of our volatile political history when General Zia-ul- Haq manipulated the ‘judicial murder’ and hanged the people’s most popular leader Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto. It was also the murder of democracy, constitutional rule, justice and fair play and above all the aspirations of the people of Pakistan. Tyrant shooting from the hip to establish ‘power flows through the barrel of gun’ was his non-compoundable offence against democracy and the vision of the Founder of the nation. The tyrant was hell bound to perpetuate his rule caring less of the horrendous ramifications of his insidious pursuit of political ambitions.
His legacy– bigotry, intolerance, hypocrisy, sectarianism and drug and Kalashnikov culture– had been constantly choking the national life in various ways. The nation had been grappling to get out of the vicious cycle since his demise in an air crash. But imminent victory was not in sight. Nation would definitely succeed in overcoming the predicaments at the end of the day but only after suffering huge losses both in blood and treasure those should have been consumed to improve the quality of life of all and sundry. The perpetrator of the evil was squarely responsible for denying the nation promising future. Pakistan would have been one of the top nations of the world today if he had not toppled the elected government of Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto. The General deserved to rot in hell forever for his heinous and unpardonable crime against the nation!
This nation is deeply beholden to Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto for his epoch making contributions enabling the nation to stand on its feet again in the backdrop of 1971 tragic events. It was like taking the first step again of thousands mile journey. His taking up the challenge to boost the morale of the people was commendable. After assuming the highest public office of the country, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto immediately embarked upon the tour of the country to assure the people that the new Pakistan would be a stronger and stable Pakistan under the democratic dispensation. His extensive tour of the Muslim countries’ capitals in particular was undertaken to assure the brotherly countries that Pakistan would continue to be an important member of the Muslim Ummah. The response of the leaders of the Muslim world was more than anticipated. Islamic Summit in Lahore Pakistan was the physical manifestation of the level of support and good will for the country under his leadership. Earlier, the friendly countries were feeling uncomfortable in extending even diplomatic support to dictators’ regimes because of the political mess created by them of appalling proportion. The history of the country had rightly put dictators in its dustbin not deserving even footnotes consideration. Dictators, heart-wrenchingly, put the soul of the Founder of the nation in great discomfort because they all had played havoc with his Pakistan that he visualised as a democratic welfare state at ease with itself and beyond.
Allama Iqbal had envisioned a separate state for the Muslims in 1930, and Mr. M. A. Jinnah spearheaded the prolific political struggle to translate the vision into reality in the form of the attainment of sovereign Pakistan. He succeeded in 1947 when the biggest Muslim state emerged on the world map. Sadly, the unfortunate era of the new country marked with the assassination of Prime Minister Liaquat Ali Khan in 1951 unfolding the period of civil-military elite’s obstreperous entrenchment in the state along with the political shenanigans. Frequent changes in the governments mired in political destabilisation had reduced the country’s politics a joke. At last, Pakistan had the first constitution after nine years which was promulgated in 1956. But, General Ayub Khan abrogated it in 1958 when he committed first sin of imposing martial law, thus eroding the basis of national unity between East and West Pakistan built on the principle of “parity representation”. The resultant acute economic and political deprivation among the East Pakistani people paved the way to the emergence of Bangladesh and the demise of the federation consisting two wings.
Mr. Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto took the reign of the country after the military debacle of 1971 when half of the country (East Pakistan) broke away from the rest of Pakistan. Thousands of square miles of territory were under the enemy’s occupation with more than ninety thousand POW in Indian jails and host of other complex issues inherent in the embarrassing transition. Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto took up the biggest challenge of his political life with the commitment of uniting the fragmented pieces of the federation into a stronger, prosperous and stable Pakistan. Fragmented pieces were the humiliating legacy of the dictators who created a huge mess in all walks of national life in order to perpetuate their illegitimate rule. Pakistan was literary standing all alone; defeated and humiliated, while the international community on the other side of the equation.
One of ZAB’s immediate and pressing priorities was the framing of the new constitution determining relations between the federation and the citizens, between the federation and federating units, among the provinces and indeed of all other state institutions. It was Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto’s utmost endeavour to enact a unanimous constitution having the full-fledged support of the people providing sound basis for the national unity. The PPP’s entire political leadership reached out to other political forces of the country and indeed to the representatives of the civil society for the accomplishment of the daunting mission of evolving broad based consensus. After painstaking negotiations and flurry of hectic activities under the guidance of the then Chairman of the PPP, a unanimous constitutional bill was finally agreed upon and tabled that was passed by the Constituent Assembly. Steering the country out of the constitutional crisis was indeed the most auspicious day of the country’s history.
The constitution stipulated parliamentary system of democracy guaranteeing fundamental rights to all citizens indiscriminately. Pakistan joined the club of the countries with parliamentary democracy. This landmark achievement (constitution), according to political analysts, had been keeping the federation intact notwithstanding the successive despicable eras of dictatorship. The grave dangers to the federation were now seemed relic of the past since democracy in the country had been consolidating its gains slowly but surely. It would most probably remain on track because anti-democratic forces strong arms tactics were no match to the soft power emanating from the emerging invincibility of people’s power.
On the external dangers emanating from the East, the leadership of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto comprehensively pre-empted the threats by taking strategic policy decisions, like nuclear programme in particular. He systematically frustrated the hegemonic designs of India because Pakistan’s nuclear programme restored the balance of power in the region based on ‘mutual assured destruction’. After the Indian nuclear test in 1974, the Pakistan leader foresaw the inevitability of the looming subjugation of Pakistan if military balance of power was not restored in the sub-continent. A sovereign status of Pakistan might have been compromised as India had never accepted Pakistan as such and was committed deep in its heart to carve out its long cherished desire of Akhand Bharat. The accomplishment of the toxic mission would have been a tasty morsel if Pakistan had not attained the status of nuclear power. The nation was deeply beholden to ZAB for his visionary, dynamic and courageous leadership that prevented the re-imposition of Hindu raj.
Within the country, the people’s leaders broke the idols of status quo in favour of the children of lesser gods. Promulgation of one man one vote system by Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto brought far reaching changes against the feudal politics. His empowering of the poor people brought out the politics from the drawing rooms of the elite to the door-steps of the poor people. His promulgation of unprecedented reforms emboldened the poor as how to get their rights while negotiating with the deliverers on equal footings. Labourers were made share-holders in the state enterprises and landless harris were given full proprietary rights of the land holdings acquired under land reforms.
PPP is known as anti-establishment and anti-status quo political organisation. History of its political struggle is witness to its impeccable credentials in this count. Even its political adversaries would not dispute the claim. The founder of the Party Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto empowered all and sundry to the level no other leader did so in the past history of the country– post-independence period. It was indeed a major stride in making the people of Pakistan as the ultimate arbiter. The momentum of empowering of the people was shamefully reversed by Dictator General Zia-ul- Haq.
Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto has become immortal because his sacrifice, thoughts and meritorious services to the nation will continue to invoke the sentiments of unstinting reverence and tributes for him among the poor segments of the Pakistani people in particular. He opted to live in history than giving in to tyranny. His tormentor earned the outrage of the people and well deserved revenge of history ever for, with no possibility of let up.
