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Business Recorder
18 hours ago
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Your scent lingers on
June 21 marks the birth anniversary of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto (Shaheed Bibi). She was born on June 21, 1953, in Karachi. On that day, her father, Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, her mother, Begum Nusrat Bhutto, and the entire Bhutto family celebrated the immense joy that her birth brought them. Shaheed Bhutto described this moment in detail in a letter he wrote to Shaheed Bibi on her 25th birthday, June 21, 1978, while on death row in Rawalpindi Jail. This letter was later published in book form under the title My Most Beloved Daughter. In this letter, Shaheed Bhutto wrote that Shaheed Bibi was a deeply compassionate and sensitive child, so much so that she once cried the whole day and refused to eat after a pigeon died. To this same daughter, on her birthday, he gifted her 'the hand of the people,' saying he had nothing else to give from his death cell. This remarkably kind-hearted Shaheed Bibi went on to confront some of the most ruthless and heartless colonial forces in the world to uphold that gift. She ultimately sacrificed her life for Pakistan and its people at the age of just 54. Shaheed Bibi once wrote that during her final meeting with her father, a day before his execution, she promised him that she would carry forward his mission. After making this solemn vow to Shaheed Baba, she dedicated the next 30 years of her life to fulfilling it, enduring immense hardships and suffering until her martyrdom. What was Shaheed Bhutto's mission? Shaheed Bibi carried it forward as a well-defined programme. His mission was to empower the people by giving them the right to make all decisions through democracy and to make the defence of the state of Pakistan impregnable. Shaheed Bhutto firmly believed that no democratic or political system can thrive in a militarily weak state. This was the essence of Shaheed Bhutto's philosophy. In light of recent Indian aggression against Pakistan and Israeli aggression against Iran, the importance of this philosophy is becoming increasingly clear. Democracy and the struggle for a strong, stable state must go hand in hand. The way Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto advanced this mission is truly unparalleled. The era of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto was marked by immense challenges, not only for the democratic forces of Pakistan but also for the security and sovereignty of the nation. Shaheed Bibi not only revived democracy by leading a peaceful yet determined struggle against two military dictators, but she also took extraordinary steps to strengthen Pakistan's defence. Today, on her birth anniversary, it is the most fitting moment to acknowledge and honour the exceptional contributions Shaheed Bibi made toward making Pakistan's defence impregnable. It is widely recognised that Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was the political architect of Pakistan's nuclear programme, while Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto played the key role as the political architect of Pakistan's modern missile programme. She not only safeguarded her father's nuclear legacy but actively advanced it. In 1974, when India conducted its first nuclear test, Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto finalised Pakistan's nuclear programme. Similarly, in 1988, after India tested its Prithvi missile, Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto took decisive steps to make Pakistan's nuclear deterrent operational and viable. Just as Shaheed Bhutto used his diplomatic channels to acquire nuclear technology from France and other countries, Shaheed Bibi skilfully engaged with North Korea and China to obtain missile technology. In 1989, as Prime Minister, she established the Missile Technology Board, obtained blueprints from North Korea, and signed multiple defence agreements. It was during her tenure that Pakistan's Hatf missile programme was launched and tested successfully. Moreover, the defence agreements that she signed with China gave Pakistan a strategic edge over India in military technology, an advantage that endures to this day. When India exhibited aggression, Pakistan, under her guidance and legacy, responded in kind, leaving a mark India would not forget. The most meaningful way to pay tribute to Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto on her birth anniversary is to recognise and salute her unparalleled efforts in fortifying the defence of Pakistan. The Pakistan People's Party is the only political party in the country whose leadership has sacrificed their lives not only for the cause of democracy but also for the security and sovereignty of the state of Pakistan. During her exile, in a conversation with journalists in Washington in March 2005, Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto said: 'My father laid the foundation of Pakistan's nuclear programme. I brought missile technology from North Korea. I signed defence agreements with China. I am told that I am the only one who can secure modern weapons for Pakistan from other countries, I am the one who can bring F-16s from the United States and Mirage jets from France. But what have they done to us? The whole world knows. Still, despite all the hardships, we will not give up our struggle to restore democracy in Pakistan, nor will we abandon our mission to strengthen its security and defence. We live and die for Pakistan and its people. Even in exile, I am doing more for Pakistan through diplomacy than those in power.' These words reflect not only her unwavering dedication to democratic ideals but also her tireless efforts to ensure Pakistan's strategic strength, even when far from home, under pressure, and in exile. Shaheed Bibi clearly advanced the mission of her Shaheed Baba through her actions. This mission encompassed both the democratic rights of the people of Pakistan and the security of the state. Today, that same mission is being carried forward by Shaheed Bibi's son and Pakistan People's Party Chairman, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. Just as he continues to raise the flags of Pakistan's victories on the diplomatic front, he is upholding the core agenda of the mission begun by Shaheed Bhutto and Shaheed Bibi. Today, on the 72nd anniversary of Shaheed Bibi, we deeply miss her presence. As Ghalib beautifully expressed, 'Aisa kahan se laaun ke tujhsa kahin jise' (Where could I find someone like you, whom I could call like you?) Shaheed Bibi used to say that a person can be imprisoned or exiled, but an ideology cannot be. We continue to uphold this belief — that a person may be imprisoned, exiled, or even killed, but an ideology will always survive. The ideology of reconciliation that Shaheed Bibi championed for Pakistan and its people, as an alternative to revenge, will forever endure. As the poet says… (Tere baad bhi guzray hain kuch log Magar teri khushboo nagayi rehguzar se) Even after you, some people did pass by, But your fragrance never left the path. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
04-04-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Bhutto is alive!
When we say "Zinda Hai Bhutto Zinda Hai," some people mock it due to their biased and narrow-minded thinking, oblivious to their own absurdity. These individuals are ignorant about history. They do not know that in political history, there have been several great leaders who have gained a lot of popularity, leading revolutions that altered the course of time. History has, however, discredited some of their political ideologies, rendering them politically irrelevant. These leaders rallied popular support on the basis of extremism and provocation, but the anarchy they created ended up destroying them-and their parties and followers. They included right-wing and left-wing politicians, nationalist and religious leaders, and even military opportunists. There are some political figures in the past whose ideologies continue to thrive and are very relevant today. They included right-wing and left-wing politicians, nationalist and religious leaders, and even military opportunists. There are some political figures in the past whose ideologies continue to thrive and are very relevant today. It can be said that they continue to exist spatially and temporally through their political thinking and approach. One such leader is Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. He possessed a deep understanding of history and shaped his political vision based on historical experiences. Shaheed Bhutto's political vision rests on three fundamental principles. The first is that a nation's foreign policy should always prioritize the interests of its country and people. The second principle emphasizes resolving fundamental issues internally by ensuring the rights of deprived and oppressed classes, nationalities, and groups. This includes recognizing their right to resources, strengthening them economically, and granting them all basic human rights, including civil liberties. The third fundamental principle asserts that achieving the first two principles requires a long and patient democratic struggle-one that is peaceful, sustainable, and serves as a precursor to gradual progress and victories. The path of democratic struggle is superior to the path of destructive adventure or chaos. Adventure and chaos serve the interests of imperialist and anti-people forces, as they deprive the people of the gains achieved through peaceful democratic struggle. This is why such forces always fear those who choose the path of peaceful democratic resistance and make them the target of their oppression. The unparalleled sacrifices of the Bhutto family, along with the leaders and workers of the PPP, stand as proof of this struggle. The PPP's commitment to peaceful democratic resistance and sacrifice continues to this day. If Pakistan today has a federal parliamentary democratic constitution, a functioning democracy, and federal units with certain rights, it is due to Shaheed Bhutto and the Pakistan Peoples Party, which upheld his political vision. According to Shaheed Bhutto's vision, the PPP remains a people's representative party and continues its struggle. That is why Bhutto remains alive today. In order to acquire a full appreciation of Shaheed Bhutto's political ideology and vision, it is necessary to read his writing, interviews, and speeches at November 30, 1967, in the inaugural session of the Pakistan People's Party, Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto had laid out the "Basic Documents" he had written, which were later ratified by the party. These documents defined the party's key principles: Islam as religion, democracy as a political system, socialism as economic order, and the people as the final authority. To further elaborate on these foundational principles, Shaheed Bhutto wrote a comprehensive program for the Pakistan People's Party in April 1968. In this document, he remarked: "Pakistan is caught in a whirlpool. When we look back on the last 20 years of our national life, we see a dangerous trend that has emerged alongside international and subcontinental challenges. It would be unreasonable to assume that this crisis is merely a routine issue of the present era or a result of a natural process. This dominant evil trend must be reversed." A scholar and political leader like Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was born once in centuries. He viewed situations through an international and historical lens with a deep and insightful approach rather than a superficial one. When he founded the Pakistan People's Party, the global communist movement was at its peak, and socialist revolutions were unfolding. However, Shaheed Bhutto looked beyond the present-he foresaw the eventual outcome of these movements. Instead of advocating for a communist dictatorship, he firmly declared democracy as his political path-a vision that socialist states themselves would later adopt, but only after enduring great upheaval. He situated socialism not as a political one but as an economic system, clarifying this difference in the party's program and founding documents. Shaheed Bhutto had contended that capitalism in Pakistan was distinctly different from that of Europe and other developed countries. In all those nations, capitalism existed together with democracy and civil rights, while in Pakistan, wealth lay in the control of only 22 families that used the system for their exploitative ends. These elites resisted democratic rights, promoted dictatorship, and intentionally checked industrial development. They did not run their factories at maximum capacity, hindered future industrialization, and diverted state capital by way of loans, and averted the creation of jobs and drove the peasants to deep poverty. The foundational documents of the PPP did not oppose private investment outright but set clear conditions for it: "Private investment will be allowed only on the principles of ability, efficiency, and legitimate profit-making, not through the patronage of elite families or corrupt bureaucratic factions. Private investment will be profitable only to the extent that the working class is an equal partner in its benefits." Shaheed Bhutto was a staunch proponent of socialism but rejected the notion that it could be imposed through mere orders or dictatorship. He believed that achieving a classless and socialist society, free from capitalist exploitation, required a gradual, historically guided process. This transformation, he argued, could only be realized through democracy under a people-centric political program. Another great achievement of Shaheed Bhutto was not only providing Pakistan with a federal parliamentary democratic system through the 1973 Constitution but also addressing the sense of deprivation by granting maximum autonomy to the federal units. He also established a neutral foreign policy for Pakistan, which he elaborated on in his book Myth of Independence. He opposed sacrificing Pakistan's interests for the sake of American policies and consistently advocated for stronger ties with China. However, he also emphasized that Pakistan's national interests should remain the priority in its relations with China. Shaheed Bhutto provided each crisis with historically proven solution through emphasizing that people indeed hold the power. Shaheed was a firm believer in that, for in times of crisis, it was the only way to use as a panacea to reference the people. This is Bhuttoism-an idea that other ideologies have failed to surpass thus far. Unfortunately, Pakistan strayed from Bhutto's vision. Instead of strengthening democracy, the country was drawn into the power struggles of global forces, military regimes were imposed, and ethnic, linguistic, regional, religious, and even so-called political extremism was deliberately promoted to counter the PPP. Today, Pakistan finds itself once again trapped in the same destructive cycle that Shaheed Bhutto warned about in his book If I am Assassinated. After Bhutto's judicial assassination, Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto carried forward his political philosophy, ultimately sacrificing her life to rescue the country from crisis. Now, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari is advancing this philosophy, staying true to Shaheed Bhutto's words by forging connections with the people and aligning himself with their aspirations. Shaheed Bhutto remains alive and continues to lead because he chose to die at the hands of a dictator rather than at the hands of history. His political philosophy has stood the test of time, proving its relevance and correctness. Given the challenges Pakistan faces today, it is imperative to once again turn to the vision of Shaheed Bhutto. The writer is Sindh Senior Minister & Minister for Information and Transport, Government of Sindh
Express Tribune
03-04-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
PPP observes ZAB's 46th death anniversary today
The PPP will observe the 46th death anniversary of party founder, late Zulfikar Ali Bhutto (ZAB), with a public rally in Garhi Khuda Bakhsh on Friday (today), which will be addressed by Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. PPP Sindh General Secretary and Special Assistant to the Chief Minister, Waqar Mehdi, told The Express Tribune on Thursday that President Asif Ali Zardari would not address the public gathering due to ill health. Mehdi said that preparations for the anniversary had been finalized, as caravans of people from across the country had started arriving in Garhi Khuda Bakhsh. Strict security arrangements had also been made for the anniversary. A series of anniversary events will begin in the morning with the recitation of the Holy Quran and fateha. This will be followed by Naat Khawani and a mushaira. The public gathering will start at 5pm, beginning with speeches from various party leaders and concluding with Bilawal's address. On the anniversary, Bilawal and Zardari paid rich tributes to the late party founder and pledged to continue his mission of making Pakistan a developed, independent, and people-friendly country. In their separate messages, they said that Shaheed Bhutto revolutionized the country's economy, agriculture, and industrial sector, empowering the working class. They added that ZAB gifted Pakistan a progressive and unanimous Constitution and strengthened the country's defence with nuclear technology. We pay tribute to Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, the first directly elected prime minister of Pakistan, whose leadership resurrected a defeated nation from the ashes of despair," Bilawal said. "In 1971, Shaheed Bhutto took charge with an unbreakable resolve," he added. "He stabilized a broken country, uplifted the nation's spirit, and set Pakistan on the path of progress. His diplomatic brilliance secured the release of 90,000 war prisoners from Indian captivity."
