4th April will be remembered as the darkest day in Pakistan’s history. The after-effects of the black judgment still haunt the nation. Pakistan was on its peak of glory and was emerging as a leading Muslim country. The successful 1974 OIC Lahore Summit was a great achievement by Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto where all the heads of states were determined to work together. Pakistan already started off with its nuclear programme under the leadership of Shaheed Bhutto, making Pakistan the first Muslim country to commence a nuclear programme.
It was for the first time that Pakistan witnessed a leader of international stature with extensive popularity across the country. Shaheed Bhutto was a sharp, hardworking and genius politician, he had an exceptional talent in holding dialogues. The famous Simla Accord where Prime Minister Bhutto convinced Indra Gandhi on his terms, reflected his impeccable skills in diplomacy and dialogue.
In the early 1970s, Pakistan needed a constitution acceptable for everyone and it was the need of the hour, Bhutto along with his legal team worked thoroughly on drafting a legal framework. It was a tough challenge but he had all the skills and will to do so, and managed to build a consensus between the government and opposition of that time so that the constitution was adopted unanimously without any objections. However, time and again dictators tried to abrogate the constitution with an unfortunate facilitation from the judiciary, but the constitution always recuperated.
On 4 April 1979 the dark gallows of Rawalpindi witnessed democracy being hanged, the man who gave his everything for the country was brutally martyred because he was the voice of poor people and the hope for peasants. But his idea and vision lives on even today; the political party he formed was later led by his daughter Shaheed Benazir who did justice to the principles set by her father.
In 1977 Operation Fair Play commenced, and the popular and competent Prime Minister of Pakistan, Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, was ousted by Gen Zia ul Haq; it was indeed a dark day in the democratic history of Pakistan.
Shaheed Bhutto was not just popular but he was also brave enough to face the harsh cruelty and challenges. There was immense craze about him, people used to cherish him, his public gatherings were phenomenal, his connection with masses was simply outstanding but he never used his supporters as human shields even during the toughest times he faced. Rather, he courageously faced the consequences of martial law on his own; indeed he was brave.
On 4 April 1979, after a long stretched unfair trial the hero of masses was hanged on the orders of a dictator who influenced the judiciary of his time. Little he knew that the legacy of valour never dies. Bhutto’s party still exists, his grandson serves the country as Foreign Minister, his given constitution is still valid and even the current generation acknowledges him for his unprecedented services and especially the atomic programme he launched.
Today after half a century Pakistan is standing at the same place, in fact a step backward, in terms of progress and economy. The sole reason for the regress is continuous interruption in the democratic system from left and right. For decades Pakistan was used by the West for its proxy wars and that’s why democratic governments were toppled and ways were paved for dictators. Losing thousands of human lives, damaging the economy with constant adventures, victimizing political leaders, depending on loans and then expecting things to work out in favour has been the biggest dilemma.
We need to revisit our history and learn from our mistakes, it’s not a matter of one person, a group of people or one specific political party but it’s about 220 million people who have been struggling for tranquillity and sustainability over the past many decades.
Even after so many years why is it so that the generation who has not even seen Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto admire him and respect him? The answer is the commitment, determination, service and courage of Shaheed Bhutto; history never forgets the brave.
Heads of various Muslim countries offered an honourable refuge to Shaheed Bhutto but he refused because he preferred to live in the books of history for his principles.
Those who wanted to eliminate Shaheed Bhutto were wrong, he still lives in the hearts of millions, his name still echoes from every corner of the country but the schemers are forgotten by history. Today, the legacies of dictators have found their shelter under the umbrella of a civilian dictator Imran Khan who is hellbent on dragging the nation towards anarchy.
On 4 April 1979 the dark gallows of Rawalpindi witnessed democracy being hanged, the man who gave his everything for the country was brutally martyred because he was the voice of poor people and the hope for peasants. But his idea and vision lives on even today; the political party he formed was later led by his daughter Shaheed Benazir who did justice to the principles set by her father. She sacrificed her life but never compromised on her father’s mission. Today her son Bilawal Bhutto is holding the torch of democracy and taking the country out of darkness and isolation.
