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.
Neither of these gentlemen,Bhutto or Zia was a paragon.Both managed to do enough damage.
@Dr Ghulam Nabi Qazi
I agree with you. Certainly God knows every thing, including whether one is muslim or not, but the question is who is god to whom, of all the world, only we Pak muslims whose faith has been made questionable with the onset of ‘Fatwa-e-kufria’, the real, sustainable Constitution of Pakistan, are obliged to submit their affidavit claiming to be muslims?
We stand at a position where the Taliban have struck another streak of attacks in the city of Peshawar. Why are we talking about some1 who has passed away years ago! We should be discussing the present and stop braggin about the past in my opinion.
Dr Jahangiri Sahib – personally I find it difficult to disbelieve any person who claims to be a Muslim, as only Allah knows best!
fair mind – that was an indication of the bestial nature of the junta and not the people of Pakistan. All sorts of false stories were circulated in those days.
Was ZAB innocent or guilty? was he punished for this crime or some other? It really does not matter. What matters is that the case was settled by a single vote. There were four judges who thought he was guilty and three judges gave a not-guilty vote. This was a hung jury. In a country where there was no democracy a man was killed because of a single vote.