Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto challenged the suffocating politics of his time, nurturing a new consciousness rooted in human rights, dignity, equality and justice. Rejecting absolutism, he sought to transform politics into public service. As we mark the anniversary of his death, we reflect not only on a remarkable leader but also on the lasting mark he left on Pakistan’s identity and democratic imagination.
Long after his passing, his light refuses to go out, his voice refuses to go out and his vision of an inclusive, just, united, prosperous, strong and dignified Pakistan continues to guide our great nation. I am proud that my own political journey has been shaped and inspired by the ideology and ideas of Quaid-e-Awam. His conviction that power belonged to the people has been a guiding light in all the positions I have held. Today, as I preside over the Senate, I see his vision embodied in the constitution he gave us and the institution he designed to protect our federation.
Shaheed Bhutto’s path to leadership was marked from the beginning by the towering figure of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah. At just seventeen years old, he wrote to the Quaid declaring that one day he would sacrifice his life for Pakistan. And true to his word, he sacrificed his life for Pakistan exactly thirty-four years later, in April 1979. Jinnah responded by advising him to study politics thoroughly but not neglect his education. That exchange marked the beginning of a relationship that would define Bhutto’s political philosophy. He carried the memory of Jinnah with him throughout his life.
With an illustrious academic career at Berkeley and Oxford, where he completed a demanding law degree in just two years, Bhutto returned to Pakistan. He soon represented the country at the United Nations and in 1958, at the age of 30, became the youngest cabinet member in Pakistan’s history.
His diplomatic skills were evident from the beginning. When meeting US President John F. Kennedy at the White House in 1963, Kennedy remarked that if Bhutto were an American, she would be in his cabinet. Bhutto’s response was characteristically blunt: “Be careful, Mr. President, if I were an American, I would be in your shoes.”
A sharp wit, formidable intellect and unwavering commitment to Pakistan’s sovereignty made him a towering figure on the world stage. As foreign minister, he brought balance to Pakistan’s foreign policy, forging closer ties with China and advocating an independent course that served the nation’s interests. He supported China’s entry into the UN, a bold move that laid the foundation for the relationship “higher than the Himalayas and deeper than the oceans” that continues to benefit Pakistan today.
However, Shaheed Bhutto’s true greatness rose like a phoenix from the very ashes of the 1971 war. These were turbulent times. Pakistan was a broken nation. Half the country had been lost and five thousand square miles of territory were under occupation. The world had discarded us. However, within a few months, through sheer diplomatic acumen, Bhutto secured the release of our prisoners and the return of our land through the Simla Agreement. He had prepared meticulously, consulting opposition leaders and military commanders and visiting fourteen Muslim countries to secure their support before entering into negotiations with Indira Gandhi.
And undoubtedly, perhaps, his greatest gift to the nation and the country was the Constitution of 1973. Before Bhutto, Pakistan had never enjoyed a democratic constitution framed by the will of its people. He gave us a constitution that declares that sovereignty belongs to Allah Almighty, but the people of Pakistan are its administrators. He created the Senate to ensure that all provinces, large or small, had an equal voice.
Equally transformative and very transcendental were its internal reforms. Within three months of taking office, he announced land reforms and distributed more than 800,000 acres to landless peasants. He established Pakistan Steel Mills, built Port Qasim and laid the foundation of Quaid-i-Azam University. His government prioritized labor welfare and expanded access to education, making education free until enrollment. These policies were part of a coherent vision summarized in their motto Roti, Kapra aur Makan.
Years later, that commitment found its most powerful expression in the Benazir Income Support Programme, which I had the honor of launching as Prime Minister. Today, BISP is recognized globally as one of the most effective social safety nets, empowering women and lifting millions of people out of poverty.
Shaheed Bhutto always had his finger on the pulse of the masses. He understood the geopolitical and strategic alchemy that linked Pakistan’s destiny to the Muslim world. In February 1974, he hosted the Islamic Summit in Lahore, which brought together leaders from thirty-eight Muslim nations. Among the distinguished guests were King Faisal of Saudi Arabia, Anwar Sadat of Egypt, Colonel Gaddafi of Libya and Yasser Arafat.
Equally unwavering was his commitment to the defense of Pakistan. He had declared that Pakistan would “eat grass” if necessary to acquire nuclear capability. As prime minister, he initiated the nuclear program. That programme, completed after his martyrdom, has ensured Pakistan’s security forever.
And then darkness descended when his democratically elected government was overthrown in July 1977. What followed was a judicial process that the world recognized as a farce and, ultimately, a “judicial murder.” Despite international appeals from leaders around the world, he was sent to the gallows on April 4, 1979. His daughter Benazir’s account of their last encounter, with iron bars separating father from daughter, remains one of the most moving passages in Pakistani history.
The Bhutto family paid an extraordinary price: the Quaid-e-Awam, his sons Shahnawaz and Murtaza, and his beloved daughter and the first female prime minister of the Muslim world and Pakistan, Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, gave their lives for the cause of the people. Today, President Asif Ali Zardari and President Bilawal Bhutto Zardari carry forward this legacy with unwavering dedication.
Throughout my political and parliamentary career, I have strived to honor that vision. The Eighteenth Amendment, passed during my tenure as Prime Minister, was a historic step towards realizing Bhutto’s dream of provincial autonomy.
Shaheed Bhutto once said, “We are not simply the heirs of a party, we are the custodians of a vision.” That vision was of a Pakistan where the poor are not forgotten, where the provinces are not silenced, where democracy is not a slogan but a way of life.
As we remember it today, let us renew our commitment to that vision. His light continues to guide us. May his soul rest in eternal peace. May his vision continue to inspire generations.
The writer is the President of the Senate of Pakistan.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of PakGazette.tv.
Originally published in The News
