Leader of the people

December 27 is indeed the darkest day in our country's history – the day Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, the courageous champion of democracy, was brutally targeted by terrorists after addressing a grand public jalsa in Rawalpindi.

I still remember that the daughter of the East and the first female elected prime minister of the Islamic world was paying tribute to her great legendary father Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, and millions of people attending the rally were raising slogans in support of the PPP. When she left the venue after addressing the rally, a large of people came out onto the streets to catch a glimpse of their great leader. This was the vulnerable moment when terrorists carried out a murderous attack on Benazir Bhutto.

When she was martyred, Pakistan was on the verge of breaking up. Her courageous spouse, Asif Ali Zardari, stepped forward in such critical circumstances to safeguard our beloved country. Playing a leading role, he raised the slogan “Pakistan Khappay” bravely. He convinced the political stakeholders that the best revenge is democracy while emphasising that the real source of power in any country are the people and that there is a dire need for a politics of reconciliation to move Pakistan forward in the right direction. No doubt, he made the tough decision to embrace all his past political opponents heroically for the survival of Pakistan.

Today, when I say that the PPP is the only political party whose workers and leaders have sacrificed their lives for Pakistan, I face criticism from some circles. However, on the occasion of the martyrdom anniversary of Mohtarma Shaheed Rani, I would like to reiterate my principled position once again that if Quaid-e-Azam founded Pakistan, then Zulfikar Ali Bhutto saved Pakistan.

Even when I was not a part of the PPP, I had made Zulfikar Ali Bhutto my role model politician. On the occasion of the annual death anniversary of the PPP founder on April 6, 2018, my column was published in these pages of The News when I was part of the PML-N. Terming Bhutto Sahib as a charismatic leader, I expressed that Bhutto is the name of an ideology and ideology never dies.

Later, during the reign of Imran Khan, I was part of the PTI but even at that time, I acknowledged Chairman PPP Bilawal Bhutto Zardari following the democratic mission of his great mother. In my weekly column published on March 10, 2022, I stated that Bilawal Bhutto's power show was very impressive. That’s why, today, I feel eternal satisfaction that I have succeeded in becoming a part of a caravan of democracy in the form of the PPP, which has made valuable sacrifices for the continuation of democracy.

Undoubtedly, Benazir Bhutto was a great asset to Pakistan. She had the status of a complete institution in herself. How can someone who was raised in the embrace of such a brilliant personality not possess political insight, foresight and leadership skills? Today, if her spouse is serving the highest post of the federation in the Aiwan-e-Sadr, then Chairman PPP Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has emerged as a prominent democratic political leader. A few days ago, Ms Aseefa Bhutto Zardari was attending a ceremony, and I saw a clear glimpse of her great mother in her charismatic personality.

Today, after seeing the enthusiasm of the caravans of supporters moving towards Larkana, I can confidently claim that the PPP lives in the hearts of the people. Although Shaheed Rani is currently not present among us, it is a source of satisfaction for me that President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari, Chairman PPP Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Ms Aseefa Bhutto Zardari and Ms Faryal Talpur all are committed to carry forward her noble mission.

The writer is a member of the National Assembly and patron-in-chief of the Pakistan Hindu Council.

He tweets/posts @RVankwani