ZAB: Symbol of democracy in Pakistan
ON 4 April 1979, former Prime Minister of Pakistan, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, was executed in Rawalpindi, Pakistan. He was sentenced to death after being accused of authorizing the murder of a political rival. His execution was controversial, sparking protests and condemnation from around the world. Bhutto remains a polarizing figure in Pakistan, celebrated by some as a champion of democracy and human rights, while criticized by others for his authoritarian style of governance. Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto belonged to a Sindhi family, he was born to Sir Shahnawaz Bhutto and Khursheed Begum near Larkana on 5th January 1928. His father was the Dewan of the princely state of Junagadh and enjoyed an influential relationship with the officials of the British Raj. As a young boy, Bhutto moved to Bombay to study at the Cathedral and John Cannon School.
Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto married twice in his lifetime. His first marriage took place in 1943 when he married his cousin and first wife Shireen Amir Begum. In 1951, he married Begum Nusrat Ispahani on September 8, 1951. Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto was a Pakistani politician who served as the 9th Prime minister Of Pakistan from 1973 to 1977, and prior to that as the 4th President of Pakistan from 1971 to 1973. He was also the founder of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and served as its Chairman until 1979.
Educated at Berkeley and Oxford, Bhutto trained as a barrister at Lincoln Inn. He entered politics as one of President Iskander Mirza’s cabinet members, before being assigned several ministries during President Ayub Khan’s rule from 1958, he was appointed Foreign Minister in 1963. After the Tashkent Agreement, Bhutto fell apart with Ayub and resigned from his government. He founded the PPP in 1967, contesting general elections held by President Yahya Khan in 1970. While the Awami League won a majority of seats overall, the PPP won a majority of seats in West Pakistan; the two parties were unable to agree on a new constitution in particular on the issue of Six-point movement which many in West Pakistan saw as a way to break up the country. Subsequent uprisings led to the Secession of Bangladesh, and Pakistan losing the war against Bangladesh-allied India in 1971. Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto was handed over the presidency in December 1971 and emergency rule was imposed.
Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto sought peace, Simla agreement with Indra Gandhi, Premier of India, and brought back 90,000 prisoners of war to Pakistan and secured 5,000 sq miles held by India without compromising on Kashmir stance or recognizing Bangladesh which were the key Indian demands. He strengthened ties with China and Saudi Arabia, recognized Bangladesh, and hosted the second Organization of the Islamic Conference in Lahore in 1974. Domestically, Bhutto’s reign saw parliament unanimously approve a new constitution in 1973, upon which he appointed Fazal Ellahi Choudhry President and switched to the newly empowered office of Prime minister.
Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto was the founder of Pakistan’s atomic Bomb program and due to his administrative and aggressive leadership to lead this nuclear deterrence program, Bhutto is often known as Father of Nuclear deterrence programmed. The Bhutto government carried out a number of reforms in the industrial sector. His reforms were twofold: nationalization and the improvement of workers’ rights. During his period as prime minister, a number of land reforms were also introduced. The important land reforms included the reduction of land ceilings and introducing the security of tenancy to tenant farmers. The land ceiling was fixed to 150 acres (0.61 km2) of irrigated land and 300 acres (1.2 km2) of non-irrigated land. In Balochistan, the pernicious practice of Shishak and Sardari System was abolished.
ZA Bhutto also made Pakistan a prominent member of the Non-Aligned Movement. Since no single leader could replace him and no single party could challenge his PPP, the state establishment forged an alliance of his political adversaries of all ideological hues and colours before the 1977 parliamentary elections which he was accused of rigging. The allegation led to a violent opposition movement that his government unsuccessfully tried to suppress. It was eventually followed by a military takeover. The last and crucial phase of his political career started in July 1977, after his government was overthrown and ended in April 1979 when he was convicted for murder in a highly controversial trial and hanged by Zia-ul-Haq.
Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto faced those tough times with courage and conviction. He never budged under pressure from an oppressive military ruler. The last two years of his life are entirely opposite to his eight years in politics when he was working with non-elected rulers. For his supporters, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto symbolizes the best elements in politics, the struggle against poverty and inequality as well as sacrifices for democracy and civilian supremacy.
History will never forget the personality like Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and he is really entitled for SHAHEED for the cause of poor people, democracy and sovereignty of the country. Shaheed Bhutto remains a contentious figure in Pakistan’s history, his daughter Benazir Bhutto was twice elected Prime Minister and his son-in-law and Benazir’s husband, Asif Ali Zardari, served as President. The Nation is still remembering his vocal voice for supremacy of the country and advocacy for Muslim cause.
— The writer is retired officer of Sindh Government.
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