When we say “Zinda Hai Bhutto Zinda Hai”, some people make fun of this slogan due to their beloved and narrow mind thinking, without reflecting on their behavior. These people do not know history.
They do not realize that throughout political history, many great leaders have increased to the top of popularity and caused revolutions that changed the course of events, however, over time, history has shown that their political philosophies are defective, which makes them politically irrelevant.
These leaders, despite their massive appeal, often obtained public support in promoting extremism and provocation.
The change or agitation they caused, although initially popular, ultimately was disastrous, both for them, their political parties and for the people who said they represent.
Such figures have included politicians from the right and left, nationalists, religious ideologues and military opportunists equally.
There are some political leaders in history whose philosophies remain alive and relevant even today. It can really be said that such leaders are still alive, both spatially and temporarily, due to the lasting relevance of their political thinking and focus. One of those leaders is Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.
Shaheed Bhutto was a visionary statesman with a deep understanding of the story. He elaborated his political vision with a careful consideration of historical experiences. His political philosophy is based on three fundamental principles:
First, that the interests of the country and the nation must always have priority in foreign policy. National dignity and sovereignty should not commit under any circumstance.
Secondly, that the internal problems of a nation must be addressed from the inside, empowering the classes, nationalities and oppressed and marginalized social groups. Your right to resources must be recognized, they must be economically high and guarantee fundamental human rights, including civil liberties.
Third, to realize the two previous principles, one must follow the path of a long, patient and democratic struggle, a peaceful, sustainable struggle and capable of delivering gradual progress and lasting victories.
This democratic path is much superior to any destructive adventure or chaos. History shows that chaos only attends to the interests of imperialist and antipopole forces, since it undermines the profits achieved through peaceful democratic movements.
That is why these forces fear and point to those who defend the peaceful democratic struggle.
The unmatched sacrifices of the Bhutto family and the leaders and workers of the Popular Party of Pakistan (PPP) are evidence of this unwavering commitment. The PPP trip of peaceful struggle and sacrifice continues to this day.
If today Pakistan has a federal, parliamentary and democratic constitution … if democracy exists … if the federal units and people have achieved something, it is due to Shaheed Bhutto and the people’s party of Pakistan who brought his vision.
On land in Bhutto’s political philosophy, the PPP continues its trip as the true representative party of the people. And that’s why Bhutto is still alive today.
To understand Shaheed Bhutto’s political vision and philosophy, it is essential to study his writings, interviews and speeches in depth. On November 30, 1967, during the foundation session of the Popular Party of Pakistan, Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto presented the “basic documents” he had authorized, which were formally adopted by the party. These documents declared: “Islam is our religion, democracy is our policy, socialism is our economy and people are the source of power.”
To elaborate these fundamental principles, Shaheed Bhutto wrote a detailed program for the Popular Party of Pakistan in April 1968, in which he declared:
“Pakistan is caught in a swirl. When we look back in the last 20 years of our national life, we see a dangerous tendency that has arisen along with international and subcontinental challenges. It would not be reasonable to consider this crisis as a routine occurrence of times or as a result of a natural process.
A scholar and political leader like Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was born once in a century. He saw situations through wide international and historical lens. His thought was never superficial; It was deep, attentive and visionary. At the time he founded the Popular Party of Pakistan, the Global Communist Movement was at its peak and socialist revolutions extended in several regions. However, Shaheed Bhutto had his eyes on the future. He foresaw the possible results of the communist movement.
Instead of raising slogans in favor of the communist dictatorship, democracy declared as their political path, something that even socialist states finally were forced to adopt, although only after enduring immense agitation. Shaheed Bhutto declared that socialism was not a politician, but as an economic system, a distinction that clearly articulated in the basic documents of the party and its detailed program.
He argued that capitalism in Pakistan was fundamentally different from that of Europe or other developed capitalist nations. In those countries, capitalism worked along with democracy and civil freedoms. In Pakistan, however, it had become an exploitation tool, concentrated in the hands of only 22 families.
These families looted wealth in the name of capitalism, opposed democratic rights and were aligned with dictatorial regimes. They did not direct their factories to full capacity or allow a broader industrialization. Under the appearance of industries and loans, the state’s capital appropriate poorly.
As a result, no new job opportunities were created, and most rural continued suffering from extreme poverty. It is important to note that basic documents did not reject private investment directly. On the other hand, they clearly declared:
“Private investment will be allowed only based on merit, efficiency and legitimate gains, obtaining, not based on the sponsorship of influential families or corrupt elements within the bureaucracy. Private investment can be beneficial, but only when the working class is treated as an equal partner in the manufacture of profits.”
Shaheed Bhutto believed in socialism, but emphasized that socialism cannot be imposed through decrees or dictatorships. The establishment of a classless socialist society and the elimination of capitalist exploitation must occur through a historical process. This trip, he emphasized, could only be completed through democracy, under a people -centered political program.
Another remarkable achievement of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was that not only gave Pakistan a federal, parliamentary and democratic government system through the 1973 Constitution, but also addressed long -standing complaints by granting maximum autonomy to federal units, thus reducing the meaning of the concern between them.
Shaheed Bhutto also provided Pakistan with a neutral and independent foreign policy, which he developed in his book “The myth of independence.” He opposed to turn Pakistan into a pawn of American interests and constantly defend to strengthen ties with China. However, it was also clear that the national interests of Pakistan must continue to be essential, even in their relationship with China.
Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto offered a historically proven solution to each national crisis with its unwavering belief that people are the true source of power. In times of crisis, he said, the only viable path is to return to people. This is the essence of Bhuttoism, an ideology rooted in popular will and democratic commitment. No other ideology has proven to be so effective or lasting.
Unfortunately, Pakistan was repeatedly taken in directions contrary to the vision and philosophy of Shaheed Bhutto. The country was attracted to the strategic games of global powers, military regimes were imposed, and in various moments, ethnic, linguistic, regional, religious political extremism was deliberately cultivated to counteract the influence of the Popular Party (PPP) of Pakistan.
Today, Pakistan is once again caught in the very whirlwind that Shaheed Bhutto warned in his prophetic book, “if I am killed.” After his judicial execution, Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto confirmed his political philosophy and gave his life in the struggle to rescue the nation from the crisis.
Now, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari continues this trip. In the spirit of Shaheed Bhutto’s words, Bilawal is forging a connection with people, aligning with their hopes, needs and aspirations. Shaheed Bhutto is still alive, not only in memory, but in leadership, because he chose to embrace martyrdom at the hands of a dictator instead of being convicted of history.
Today, the story is witnessing the validity of Bhutto’s political philosophy. In the current national context, there is an urgent need to visit and realize with the vision of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.
