Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto – A visionary leader

4th April is the black day in the history of Pakistan that witnessed the judicial murder of great charismatic public leader Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto in 1979. The judicial murder of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto on this day by a dictator was actually the death of humanity and the voice of masses.

History will neither forgive nor forget the murder of a leader who wanted to make us the leading nation, progressive, peaceful and towards national integrity and prosperity by empowering the masses and by making Pakistan the first Muslim Nuclear Power in the world. He had feared that Pakistan will be exposed to external danger by neighbouring India therefore announced “We (Pakistan) will eat grass, even go hungry, but we will get one of our own (Atom bomb), we have no other choice!”. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Shaheed was the leader who had the vision to foresee the disintegration of Soviet Union and future of the Asia.

Shaheed ZA Bhutto refused to succumb to the international pressure to roll back Pakistan’s nuclear programme. Gerald Feuerstein, who was a witness to the meeting between the then Prime Minister Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and then US secretary of State Henry Kissinger in Lahore in August 1976, had admitted in an interview that Bhutto rejected the warning to roll back or compromise over Pakistan’s nuclear programme.

Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto had pain in his heart for his people, country and Muslim Ummah and he made the history by bringing the Muslim Ummah on one platform during Islamic Summit Conference in Lahore in 1974. He was not only a distinguished national leader but also an unparalleled statesman who revivified the broken nation after the disaster of the fall of Dhaka by bringing back 90,000 prisoners of war.

Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto had judged well the Indian mindset, which was to never accept the basic rights of Kashmiris of self-determination but he emphasised at all international forums that the settlement of the Kashmir dispute depends on the right of self-determination. Towards every issue his approach was logical, authentic and pragmatic.

The country was deprived of Constitution for decades but he gave a Constitution equally acceptable to all political parties. He was the most loved leader both within Pakistan and within Muslim Ummah. Indeed, Shaheed Zulfikar Bhutto was the most charismatic political leader Pakistan has ever seen. Even today the Muslim brothers and sisters across the world call Pakistan as “Pakistan of Bhutto”.

Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was the pioneer of Pakistan relations with rest of world and laid down the foundations of strong friendship with China, which always supported Pakistan against all odds. This relationship is getting stronger and stronger, which is reflected in the form of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

The public must know that the enemies of Pakistan decided his elimination after he announced and then refused the rollback of the nuclear programme despite the numerous pressures and threats of making him a ‘horrible example’.

The CIA hatched a plan to block communism, using Islam through General Ziaul Haq. He preached his own brand of Islam wherein he promoted extremists, terrorists and all kind of criminals under the name of Jehadis. These extremists and terrorists criminal elements were brought and nourished by USA in Pakistan for launching them in Afghanistan to operate. Gen Ziaul Haq ensured the judicial murder of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto before implementing the voice of his master without realizing the fate of president Ayub Khan who fell from grace when American withdrew the support.

How nature took revenge from Gen Ziaul Haq and his all those colleagues who had conspired against Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto in the Army House in the presence of Gen Akhtar Abdur Rehman and Gen Ziaul Haq. The then director CIA WJ Casey has disclosed the details of the meeting in his memoirs where, inter alia, CIA Director WJ Casey narrates as to how Gen. Zia was recruited while he was specially posted in Jordon for operation against Palestinians. Interestingly, it is same era when Air Commodore Khaqan Abbasi was also posted as the advisor of Royal Jordanian Air Force and both Ziaul Haq and Khaqan Abbasi remained under the command of Army Chief of Jordon and became good friends. Today’s Prime Minister of Pakistan Shahid Khaqan Abbasi grew with legacy and the children of General Ziaul Haq. The legacy continued where General Ziaul Haq raised his team consisting of anti-Bhutto that included Chaudhary Zahoor Elahi, Khawaja Safder, Ghulam Dastgir Khan, Raja Zafarul Haq and Mian Nawaz Sharif.

Once I got an invitation of an official function in the Army House but it was the unfortunate black day in the history of Pakistan as on the same day the chief justice of Pakistan had upheld the death sentence and was smartly dressed with his grey hairs and was receiving congratulation for his judgment. General Ziaul Haq standing next to the chief justice was also receiving the greetings from his own created politicians and his senior colleagues. Shamelessly they all had no feelings for remorse and were celebrating the death of a charismatic leader who had dreamed of Pakistan leading the world.

I had seen another shock episode in the said morning when Ch. Zahoor Elahi called Justice Anwarul Haq asking him to send the pen, which was used for writing the death sentence to Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto. This call was made from Westridge house where the old building of Supreme Court was situated. I saw that pen and the barefaced happiness in the Zahoor place on the announcement of that unfortunate judgment. Finally, I heard that the Army aviation has done a rehearsal to carry the body of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. It was shocking and unbelieving that next morning when heard Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto was hanged and buried quietly.

They killed and buried Bhutto mysteriously but her bravest daughter Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, the first woman prime minister of the Muslim world, marked the political rebirth of her father Zulfikar Ali Bhutto's legacy. She suffered the most in the hands of Ziaul Haq and his remnants but eventually she witnessed the crashing of C-130B Hercules aircraft where even remains of the body of Ziaul Haq could not be found. The wrath of Allah also fell on Justice Maulvi Mushtaq who had awarded death sentence to Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto. Honeybees attacked his funeral and the mourners had to flee from the graveyard leaving his coffin unattended.

It was narrated to me by Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto that General Ziaul Haq did not want marriage between her and Asif Ali Zardari but it was written by Almighty Allah and it happened but he did his best to block, which is yet another topic and I would be elaborating it next time.

As director FIA had taken on myself to look into the old files of the judicial murder of Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto where I had found some tampered documents and would soon write a book detailing the conspiracy behind Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s ‘judicial murder’, which was carried out with a plan. General Ziaul Haq’s government changed the documents but the entire world declared it a ‘judicial murder’. I appreciate the honesty of the then director law of FIA who had clearly stated the shells of the bullets were replaced, witnesses were tempered, accused were assured escort free home and Masood Mahmood was tutored under duress and in fact the first statement of Masood Mahmood was recorded by Magistrate Ghazanfar Zia under Section 164 of Cr. P.C., who never implicated Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. The magistrate had recorded the statement by observing the legal procedure and I interacted with him during my inquiry. He is presently living in his village in Kharian.

Having failed with Ghazanfar Zia, Magistrate, to change the statement of Masood Mahmood, the file was transferred to Lahore and yet a second statement under Section 164 Cr. P.C. was recorded by another Magistrate Qureshi who converted a tutored statement by Zia loyalist into confessional statement of Masood Mahmood. This was the beginning of the conspiracy to kill Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. The files in the FIA are testimony of the innocence of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto but deep buried files need to make to speak as it is the high time that the reality should come to light.

General Ziaul Haq tried to eliminate Bhuttoism by killing Zulfikar Ali Bhutto but he still rules the hearts of the people while Ziaul Haq was made a disgrace for the rest of the world. We know almost all those Muslim leaders who participated in the Second Islamic Summit Conference held from February 22-24, 1974 in Lahore died unnatural death. Undoubtedly, the killing of all these Muslim leaders cannot be a coincidence but an operation to punish them and to give a message to the Muslim World. Actually the judicial murder of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was international larger plan for the implementation of big geo political plan in the region.

The Bhutto family continued to suffer where first Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was killed then his son Shah Nawaz Bhutto was got killed by General Ziaul Haq using CIA operator through his wife in France. The lady accused was managed to flee away while the case of murder against her was pending in the court. I had investigated the said murder case along with one senior police officer and it was proven case of murder of Shah Nawaz Bhutto by her wife but with no action against her and no further investigation was carried out. I also remember those sad moments to see Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto crying loudly when I, as then director FIA, was briefing her about the graphic tragic details of her brother Mir Murtaza Bhutto murder case investigation.

I, in my humble capacity, will soon expose those facts, which are buried in files and from those who are mum. We, PPP workers and President Asif Ali Zardari, filed reference to Supreme Court but the then Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry did not proceed on it. I, therefore, appeal to the present chief justice to take up this case to vindicate position of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto post death.

Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was distinguished leader in the history of Pakistan who gave lesson of peace and humanity to the rest of the world and gave voice to the poor and oppressed people of Pakistan and empowered them to stand for their rights. I had the honour to work with three Bhuttos, first with Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto when, and thereafter Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto- my leader, mentor and sister and followed by Asif Ali Zardari and Bilawal Bhutto Zardari – the only hope for Pakistan’s future. And, I feel proud to have personal and political association with the Bhutto and Zardari family. Like Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto who carried on the Bhutto’s legacy more powerfully and bravely, I find the same bravery, wisdom, vision and far-sightedness in Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.

Bhutto family is family of tragedy and they have suffered the maximum for Pakistan and for the masses. It always brings tears in my eye to recall those days and I remember Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto recalling her father Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and narrating some tragic and painful incidents and time of life, she had spent with her father and also the beautiful memories she had with her papa. Shaheed Benazir Bhutto once told me that her father advised her to remain away from those who hide the facts from you and flatter you to misguide you and always be open to advices but make your own decisions. Today I am sure and optimistic that Bilawal Bhutto Zardari will continue to take the mission of his elders forward.

Bhutto’s ideology was popular throughout the world and he laid down his life but didn’t let Pakistan’s nuclear programme rolled back and didn’t compromise on his towering principles. He could have saved his life if had compromised with a dictator, which was an impossible act for a leader of the people – Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. Today, Pakistan is secure only due to Bhutto’s vision and the future would belong to PPP leader Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, as he is the only one who truly has the guts to fill in Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s boots. “Bilawal is the future prime minister of Pakistan Insha Allah so the people can find their favourite leader Bhutto again among themselves”.

The writer is Chairman of think tank "global eye" & former Interior Minister of Pakistan. @Email: rmalik1212@gmail .com, Twitter @Senrehmanmalik, @GlobalEye_GSA, WhatsApp +923325559393