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.
I still cannot rationalize why he ordered the killing of Bhutto.
@Fuzair
You are 100 % right dear. I was also a great admirer of Bhutto when he raised the slogan of Socialism but began to dislike him when he set up FSF. So were many of the PPP leaders like Mobashir, Rahim ( There is a long list but I have forgotten the names of most of them). In my view the greatest sin he did was to convert the Constitution of Pakistan into a ‘Fatwa-e-Kufr’, which provided Zia, the handle to make the faith of the people who called themselves Muslims suspicious, so much so, that he prescribed an affidavit to be filled in by all those who called them Muslims.
I think this post is trying to stir up political conflicts for no good reason. It is clear that there are big time fans of ZAB and of Gen. Zia. So let the past be the past. Gen Zia was also responsible for a lot of good too. He had balls.
@Watan Aziz,
“Blame all you want, Yahya, Mujeeb and ZAB were witnesses to the collective sins of the days past.”
Precisely. There cannot be blame on any single person. One could argue that the ‘buck’ stopped at Yahya’s desk and he could have, with legal and military authority, done anything he wanted. But he didn’t. ZAB is a convenient escape-goat indeed. Too much happened prior to the 1970 elections.
I guess, as many times as Adil has raised this question and in as many different ways, people on both sides have made up their minds.
And never the twain shall meet.
While it is heartening to see a civil discussion; it is saddening to see that the best educated of Pakistan continue to form opinions based rumors, third hand innuendos and just pure fabrication of history.
So here goes my 2 paisas.
If by 1970, Mujeeb had become an Urdu language teacher in Karachi or ZAB had started to write Bengali graffiti in Dhaka or Yahya had gone cold sober one morning or General Rani had become General Raja (had to bring her in to make the point interesting); nothing would have changed.
Nota.
Zip
Zilch.
No nothing.
It was history reckoning and recording the wishes of the people of both sides. One had nothing to do with Urdu, the other could not think beyond alif, bay, paye.
And with so many outsiders meddling and taking advantage of the discord in affairs, I am not even sure if a peaceful separation could have had happened. Butcher of Dhaka was determined. Mukti Bhani was trained, financed and equipped. And surrender of Pakistanis jawans was all but written.
Blame all you want, Yahya, Mujeeb and ZAB were witnesses to the collective sins of the days past.
The question still remains, will West Pakistani admit the collective sin? Were the folks whipping up Urdu admit they erred?
I doubt that too!
ZAB is just too convenient for them to blame.
And blame others they shall.
We are not about the change human nature just because we are civil. Are we?