Adil Najam
On the first death anniversary of Benazir Bhutto we had carried a post asking “What if she had not been killed?” Today, on the 22nd death anniversary of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto (ZAB) it may be a good time to ask the same question about him.
On previous anniversaries of ZAB’s death we have asked you to comment on Mr. Bhutto and his legacy and about the rationale and reasoning given for his death by his nemesis, Gen. Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq. This time let us think a little about what his death meant for Pakistan – and, thereby, for all the rest of us.
Of course, one expects a lot of naara baazi from both his supporters and his detractors. That is merely to be expected. But beyond the black and white slogans there was the man and the legacy of the man that has clearly impacted much of what has happened since his death, especially because of the nature of his removal.
Indeed, one could suggest that there are at least two separate questions here: What might have happened had Zia Ul Haq’s coup not happened and if Bhutto had lived on? And, what might have happened if Bhutto had not been hung after the trial?
How might have the PPP evolved in either of those cases? What would these have meant for Pakistan’s politics as a whole? And Pakistan’s economy and foreign relations? Pakistani institutions?
I am not presupposing any answer, nor am I suggesting that these are questions that can be logically answered precisely. But they may be questions worth thinking about today; not just to speculate about how might have happened, but much more important to think about how our acts of political expediency today can have long and deep shadows – nearly always unintended, quite often consequential, and sometimes historically disastrous even for those who orchestrate them.
If Bhutto was alive today Pakistan would be another Iraq or Libya with Saddam or Qaddhafi style rule. The man had exhibited short bursts of brilliance but was overall a tyrant and psychopath like all feudals. He couldn’t rise above himself or his feudal background unfortunately. Most of the ghunda gardi, badmashi and religion in politics is of his making. Zia-ul-Haq was his pick; what Zia did to Pakistan and it’s generations will always remain Bhutto’s responsibility; complacency towards Mullahs was his choice and introducing terror tactics and dirty politics was his gift. Looking at the performance of successive PPP govts. doesnt surprise me a bit. He set the stage for them. It only gets worse from any point in time if you look at their history. It’s sad, he had the potential to raise Pakistan and make it a great nation had he truely believed in what he preached.
Grammar correction to my last comment:
He would have been my hero, had he sent every single Pakistani child to school.
But I do appreciate the way he touched many Pakistani hearts, gave them a Hope and did achieve few positive things as well.
Thank you Bhutto!
nihari sahib,
bohat teekhi aur taeez tahreer likhi hai. bohta khoob. urdu zaban ka aik apna maaza hai.
@ Mr.Amin …. ohh so u were adult & government employee so u must be one of those 303 who were dismissed by Bhutto govr.
otherwise .. there were no such general Observations… If one have seen Zia ‘s LASHES , JAILS, HANGING SCENARIOS … he never ever call ZAB a dictator !!
By the way I am not a Blind supporter of ZAB shaheed ..I am a Big critic of his Balochistan Operation , turning Ahmadis non muslims & Promotion to Killer Zia .But Record should be straight … his Good points in any case above his Bad points… After all he was a Human being …
Thanx….
An excerpt from Wajahat Masood’s column
اردو ادب میں غالب نے میاں عارف اور اقبال نے داغ کے نوحے سے جو روایت شروع کی، اسے فیض نے کوئی درجن بھر نوحوں سے زندہ جاوید بنا دیا۔ مگر اختر حسین جعفری نے نوحہ تھوڑی لکھا تھا، گویا تلوار کے ظلم کی تاریخ کا استعارہ کاغذ پہ رکھ دیا تھا۔ تلمیحات کا خروش ایسا پُرتاثیر تھا کہ ضیا الحق نے اسی نظم کے مصرعے دہرا کے اہل قلم کانفرنس میں ادیبوں کی ’چھترول‘ کی تھی۔
اب نہیں ہوتیں دعائیں مستجاب
اب کسی ابجد سے زندانِ ستم کھلتے نہیں
سبز سجادوں پہ بیٹھی بیبیوں نے
جس قدر حرف عبادت یاد تھے
پو پھٹے تک انگلیوں پہ گن لیے
اور دیکھا رحل کے نیچے لہو ہے
شیشۂ محفوظ کی مٹی ہے سرخ
سطر مستحکم کے اندر بست و در باقی نہیں
ایلچی کیسے بلاد مصر سے
سوئے کنعاں آئے ہیں
اک جلوس بے تماشہ گلیوں بازاروں میں ہے
یا الہی، مرگِ یوسف کی خبر سچی نہ ہو
اور آخری لائنیں
اب سمیٹو مشک و عنبر
ڈھانپ دو لوح و قلم
اشک پونچھو اور ردائیں نوک پا تک کھینچ لو
کچی آنکھوں سے جنازے دیکھنا اچھا نہیں