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.
Not only Pakistan but whole of the world would have been a different place had Bhutto been left as PM but , sadly, it was destined. Even after that Zia had the power and authority to make Pakistan central power but with his limited vision he ruined Pakistan into a horrible place that it is today.
Very easy to answser, what do you expect from a corrupt autocart who has no lover or passion for his own nation. No change, we would have continued to travel towards darkness. The only constant in Pakistan – continous degradation of the well being of this nation orchestrated by the ruling elite.
@ann syedha, No I was not one of those “lucky” people. I lived under threats and suffered in Islamabad. Here we are not making comparison of Bhutto vs anyone. To me, Ayub, Yahya, Zia, and Mushraf are all dictators and during my student days I protested against Ayub. Here we are looking at the “contributions” of Bhutto to Pakistan and Pakistanies. After killing thousands, a part of my county left us just for the reason that Bhutto wanted to be the ruler. The country has not recovered from the economic crisis of nationalization because the governments after him: Zia, Benazir, Sharif, and Musaraf were all corrupt.
I have some personal observations of Bhutto’s dictatorial behaviour which I will not narrate. However, not a day goes by when I do not remember my East Pakistan. May Allah protect us from other turmoils.
Maxim’s cartoon in 06 April (today’s)issue of ‘The Nation’ pretty much sums up the whole discussion.
Interesting question. No one can say for sure but at very least Zia era would not have developed the way it did giving rise to fundamentalism.