Dr.Abdul Razak Shaikh
The Pakistan Supreme Court said on March 6th, 2024, former Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, hanged in 1979 following one of the country’s most controversial legal cases, did not get a fair trial, a verdict widely seen by the ex-premier’s family and political associates as a correcting of history. The CJP Qazi Faez Isa said that the Constitution and the law do not provide such a mechanism that the Bhutto case judgment should now be annulled. The trial in the Lahore High Court (LHC) and the appeal proceedings in the Supreme Court were not as per fundamental rights. On April 4, 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 (née Lakhi Bai) 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 before 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 in 1958, and appointed Foreign Minister in 1963, After the Tashkent Agreement ended hostilities, Bhutto fell out with Ayub and resigned from 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, particularly on the issue of the 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, Shimla 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 as 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 of this nuclear deterrence program, Bhutto is often known as the father of the Nuclear deterrence program. The Bhutto government carried out several reforms in the industrial sector. His reforms were twofold: nationalization and the improvement of workers’ rights. During his period as prime minister, several land reforms were also introduced. The important land reforms included the reduction of land ceilings and the introduction of the security of tenancy to tenant farmers. 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 allied his political adversaries of all ideological hues and colors 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 of 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. 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 of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and he is entitled to SHAHEED for the cause of poor people, Democracy, and sovereignty of the Country. Shaheed Bhutto remains a contentious figure in Pakistan’s history, his party remains among Pakistan’s, his daughter Benazir Bhutto was twice elected Prime Minister, and his son-in-law and Benazir’s husband, Asif Ali Zardari, served as President, and again elected and taken Oath on 10th March 2024 for next five years. The Nation is still remembering Shaheed Bhutto for his vocal voice for the supremacy of the country and advocacy for the Muslim cause.
