NA resolution seeks ZAB case verdict revocation amid PTI opposition

ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly passed a resolution on Wednesday demanding overturning of the verdict in the Zulfikar Ali Bhutto case, citing it as a grave miscarriage of justice.

“The trial and conviction of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was a grave miscarriage of justice,” read a resolution presented by Shazia Marri, a PPP parliamentarian in the National Assembly.

The house also paid tribute to the struggles of Nusrat Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto, as well as the sacrifices of PPP workers who laid down their lives in pursuit of truth. Furthermore, the resolution commended Asif Ali Zardari’s determination to file the presidential reference and Bilawal Bhutto’s steadfastness in pursuing the case.

The resolution highlighted the glaring injustice done to Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and called for the overturning of his conviction in the light of the Supreme Court verdict.

Moved by Shazia Marri, the resolution further demanded that the federal government officially declare former prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto a Shaheed and national democratic hero, along with conferring Nishan-e-Pakistan upon him.

Additionally, it called for the establishment of the Nishan-e-Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Award for workers and activists who have dedicated their lives to the cause of true democracy in Pakistan.

Although the chair declared the resolution unanimously passed, opposition member Barrister Gohar Ali Khan disputed this, saying that they had not been consulted and thus could not endorse it unanimously. Gohar Ali Khan also noted Asif Zardari’s demand to overturn the conviction.

On another note, opposition member Omar Ayub Khan raised concerns about the incumbent government’s decision to appoint Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sultan Sikandar Raja as Pakistan’s High Commissioner in Canada. He alleged that this appointment was linked to ordering recounts on 20 National Assembly seats to strip the opposition MNAs of their memberships, demanding the resignation of CEC.

He also urged for the completion of trials of PTI leaders Hassan Niazi and Haider Majeed by military courts so that the Supreme Court could proceed with the case.

Omar Ayub highlighted instances of alleged harassment by law enforcement against opposition members, including an incident involving Islamabad Police Inspector Mushtaq, who reportedly ordered locking of gates and teargassing of opposition members outside the Parliament House.

Deputy Speaker Syed Ghulam Mustafa Shah assured that an inquiry would be conducted into the incident.

Additionally, Omar Ayub criticised the refusal of Adiala Jail officials to allow a meeting with the PTI founder, citing security reasons and raised concerns about the arrest of several political figures by the Punjab Police.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Information Secretary Faisal Karim Kundi denounced the stance of PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan on the National Assembly’s resolution regarding Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto as “shameful.”

“Barrister Gohar Khan lacks even the slightest respect within the PTI, as political nonentities engage in actions similar to those of Barrister Gohar in today’s National Assembly session,” he remarked in response to Barrister Gohar Khan’s position on the resolution honouring the late Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.

Kundi highlighted that the judge who sentenced Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto had himself acknowledged the wrongful nature of the sentence. He emphasized that history has revered Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto as a hero, while those responsible for his martyrdom have been consigned to the dustbin of history.

Furthermore, Kundi pointed out that individuals associated with the events of May 9 now align themselves with the perpetrators of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s assassination.