Adil Najam
Today is April 4, the death anniversary of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto – founder of PPP, President and Prime Minister of Pakistan, and one of the most iconic figures (whether you like him or not) in Pakistan’s history. He was hung to death on April 4, 1979, during the military rule of Gen. Mohammad Zia ul Haq. In this historic video, Gen Zia-ul-Haq explains and defends the trial of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto.
There is much, too much, in this video that is still pertinent today: the role of the military in politics, Gen. Zia’s promise of early elections, the role of a “free” judiciary, views on “justice must be done,” and so much more. Do please let us know what emotions this evokes in you.
For more on the life and death of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto also see our 2008 post on his death anniversary and a post of historic photographs of Mr. Bhutto during this trial.
Shoaib and Sanya got talked about more than Bhutto this April 4th.
@Adnan Siddiqi,
Zia ruled from 1977 till 1988–about 1/4th of Pakistan’s whole history by then. Television was introduced on a semi-mass level barely a decade before 1977–color tv only in 1976, I think. So it is no wonder we see great tv shows under Zia–ANY other ruler would have probably done at least the same, under Zia’s circumstances.
However, because of Zia’s ruthless censorship–some of us are old enough to have seen blacked-out columns in print media of Zia years due to ‘midnight knocks’ on the doors of newspaper organizations–it is fair to conclude that a lot in media did NOT materialize because of Zia. Zia even tried to ban television’s female news-casters from putting lipstick on and had even banned Pakistani Urdu Feature films to be shown on PTV for years because, to quote Zia’s one of the favorite words, ‘Fahashi’ (semi-porn; vulgarity).
I hope we get a picture of media under Zia.
Now you have ruined my day showing me his picture. I refuse to play his perniciously anemic and prepasterous video blah blah blah.
Writing his name is beneath me. Satan had his way.
He took the smile away from the faces of pakistanis.
To me Pakistans past is dark, cruel and evil
because of him and Mullahs.
Mr Bhuttos outrageous pride seems peanuts against this evil evil doer :)
I still see the remnants of him and mullahs in Army, politicians
and Imran khan.
They are raising ferocious pitbulls on Northern part to sell them to the world but no shield to protect their own citizens. Mr Musharaf tried to paint a nice picture but leopard spots never went away.
Next time if the Army tries to run the civilian Government, may the wrath of the people teach them a lesson.
P.S. Mr Zardari, please change your hair style because it resembles him. Although we have not seen your other side yet,
but when you bring your millions of dollars from the swiss banks and invest in Pakistan,
Others would follow.
Thank you
Shahid
ZAB’s hanging changed the whole shape of politics in the country. Zia used his best instituions that is ISI to create anti-peoples party and they did it by creating regional nationalists parties based on ethnic identities of regions which later emerged with names like MQM, ANP and JSQM. This biggest trick of devil worked. Plus, his coperation with religious punks, knowing the fact that Bhutto’s vision was socialist, he later defined socialist and communist as kafir. When I was in matric , my definition for Communist and atheist was same. see how well this all worked, that we now have people who think if we are not blewing ourselves, we are not muslims.
Zia’s memorial should be moved to Adiala jail.
@Cheema: if ZAB would have alive, we would have seen/not seen following:
1)Islamic countries would have come much closer than before and could do better in economics.
2)BCCI would not have been collapsed.
3)BB would have not got married with son of a dacoit, Asif Ali Zardari because ZAB never liked Hakim Ali Zardari.
4)Pakistan would have test nukes long before than 98.
Not that I am fan of Zia but is it not true that most of famous writers and drama people produced classics in the era of Zia?
Shoaib Mansoor,Anwar Maqsood and others would always be thankful of Zia that he let him exhibit their skills