My mother believed 'democracy is the best revenge': Bilawal

LONDON: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal-Bhutto Zardari has said that his mother, slain Benazir Bhutto, was an extraordinary woman, who advanced the idea that “democracy is the best revenge, not personal vendetta”.

Bilawal was speaking to students at the Oxford University where he delivered the Annual Benazir Bhutto Memorial Lecture.

Forty-eight years ago this term, Benazir Bhutto (Ex-President, Lady Margaret Hall) made history as the first female Asian President of the Oxford Union. Leading in Hilary Term 1977, she shattered barriers and championed diversity in leadership. She later became the first woman to lead a Muslim-majority nation, dedicating her life to democracy, equality, and justice.

The Oxford Union said it was proudly hosting the annual lecture to celebrate Benazir’s enduring influence and to pay tribute to Benazir Bhutto’s remarkable legacy.

Bilawal praised his mother’s dedication to democracy and resilience against patriarchal challenges and several odds she faced throughout her career including several assassinations in her family – and her own killing in Pindi.

“My mother Benazir Bhutto came to Oxford at the age of 16 to study and then returned to Pakistan at 25 to enter politics,” Bilawal said. “She was an extraordinary woman who paved the way for women in leadership despite societal restrictions.”

Bilawal highlighted her achievements as Pakistan’s first female prime minister and her influence on the country’s progress in appointing women to key positions, including foreign minister, chief minister and speaker of the National Assembly.

During the wide-ranging address, Bilawal also defended Pakistan’s nuclear programme, criticising what he called Western double standards on nuclear weapons. “I am struck by the hypocrisy. What are the rules that make one entitled to a missile or a nuclear weapon? Is it that every Western or White country is allowed nuclear weapons and others aren’t? Pakistan’s is not an aggressive nuclear weapon programme,” he said.

He also took a veiled swipe at US President Donald Trump. He said: “We don’t have an expansionist policy to take over the Panama Canal or conquer Canada. Ours nuclear weapons are only for self-defence.”

Expressing concern over US sanctions on Pakistan’s ballistic missile programme, Bilawal questioned who had the authority to define a nation’s defence capabilities when the country was in full compliance of the international laws.

Bilawal emphasized the importance of democratic governance, an independent judiciary and free journalism as essential to the country’s future. “The people of Pakistan are right to demand a better future,” he said. “They certainly do not deserve another military coup.”

Oxford University President Israr Khan moderated a question-and-answer session after the main lecture where Bilawal responded to questions about human rights and democratic challenges in Pakistan. He acknowledged that even established democracies face issues and defended the PPP’s stance on controversial legislation such as the 26th amendment and the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), stating that the party had voiced its opposition where necessary.