DURING your press conference outside the Parliament House on December 10, 2025, you once again reiterated your party’s demand—formally raised through a Calling Attention Notice and also conveyed verbatim by Ms. Aseefa Bhutto Zardari to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif—that the New Islamabad International Airport be renamed “Benazir Bhutto International Airport.” I wholeheartedly support the PPP’s demand to rename the New Islamabad International Airport as Benazir Bhutto International Airport. This demand is fully justified and merits immediate acceptance without any delay or reservation. I firmly believe that this is the very least we, as a nation, can do to honor and acknowledge the unparalleled sacrifices and lifelong services of the late Shaheed Benazir Bhutto to Pakistan.
While doing so, I wish to draw your attention to the case of the veteran statesman and Freedom Movement leader, the late Mr. Mahmud Ali. His mortal remains lie buried—regrettably in a state of neglect and indignity—at the H-8 graveyard in Islamabad, a reality that stands in stark contrast to his towering contributions. Mr. Mahmud Ali was a leader of exceptional stature whose sacrifices and services for Pakistan were truly unparalleled. He remained unwavering in his commitment to the security and integrity of the country and fearlessly championed Pakistan’s cause at every national and international forum. The former Prime Ministers of Pakistan—the late Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and Shaheed Muhtarma Benazir Bhutto—held him in the highest esteem and consistently acknowledged and respected his extraordinary sacrifices and lifelong services to the nation.
In her condolence message addressed to the children of the late Mr. Mahmud Ali, Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto wrote: “Mr. Mahmud Ali was a true Pakistani, whose unwavering commitment to the nation and whose sacrifices for its unity and integrity served as a profound source of inspiration for the younger generation. She observed that leaders of his stature are born only once in many generations. She further noted that, in recognition of his invaluable services and sacrifices for Pakistan, the late Mr. Mahmud Ali was appointed Advisor to Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, and was subsequently entrusted with the responsibilities of a Federal Cabinet Minister—a position he continued to hold under successive governments until his passing.
Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto also emphasized ‘that Mr. Mahmud Ali lived a life of purpose and distinction, and played a significant role in both the creation and safeguarding of Pakistan.’ She concluded by affirming that his name would forever be remembered with respect, affection, and admiration in the annals of the nation’s history.” You would surely agree that allowing a veteran statesman of the stature, distinction, and repute of the late Mr. Mahmud Ali to fade into oblivion would be profoundly unjust and deeply shameful.
Over the past six years, I have addressed numerous communications—links to which are provided above—to the heads of successive elected and interim governments of Pakistan, including the Honourable Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, President Asif Ali Zardari, and the COAS & CDF, Syed Asim Munir. Regrettably, despite these consistent and sustained efforts, my appeals have yet to elicit any response.
Now that you—and Ms. Aseefa Bhutto—have rightly raised your voices in Parliament for the renaming of the New Islamabad International Airport as Benazir Bhutto International Airport, I respectfully urge you to demonstrate the same zeal and commitment in Parliament for Veteran Statesman and Freedom Movement leader, the late Mr. Mahmud Ali. I further appeal to you to take up, on a priority basis, the matter of posthumous conferment of Pakistan’s highest civil award, Nishan-e-Pakistan 🇵🇰 upon Mr. Mahmud Ali, in recognition of his unparalleled sacrifices and his lifelong, selfless services to the nation, with the Honourable Prime Minister and the President of Pakistan. I sincerely hope that you, together with Ms. Aseefa Bhutto Zardari, will discharge this national obligation with due urgency and dignity, ensuring rightful recognition of one of Pakistan’s most illustrious, revered statesmen and founding leaders, the late Mr. Mahmud Ali.
In conclusion, I take this opportunity to also make a heartfelt and earnest appeal to the honorable members of both Houses of Parliament—the Senate and the National Assembly of Pakistan—across the treasury and opposition benches alike, to rise above personal interests and prejudices, and to unite in support of a just national cause. I urge them to raise their collective voice and demand the posthumous conferment of Pakistan’s highest national honor upon the Veteran Statesman and Freedom Movement Leader, the late Mr. Mahmud Ali. Needless to say, such an act would constitute the fulfillment of a profound and long-overdue national responsibility.
—The writer is a columnist and analyst based in Islamabad -Pakistan.
