تاريخ جي ڪفن جھڙو ڪيس

Islamabad, Pakistan Mar 8, 2024 ALN: During the final year of the seventh decade of the past century, when the country was under the dark shadow of a harsh dictatorship, a military major attempted to instill fear in the nation by publicly sentencing individuals through a summary military court. At that time, a case against Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto was underway, which held no weight in the eyes of law and justice, but political minds knew it was a fabricated and false case designed to impose a severe punishment on Bhutto. This was the reason why a shameless dictator, General Zia, buried his own shame and dignity to execute Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto. Unlike Nawaz Sharif, who was ready to go into exile, Bhutto had made promises to the people and decided to honor them, remaining steadfast in that decision.

The court, referred to as the Supreme Court, was essentially a legal front for the dictatorship, tasked with delivering verdicts that had already been predetermined by its judges. Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto fought his case vigorously within the context of global and national politics, being acutely aware of his public image. He understood that in history, an individual's image endures, as expressed by Ayaz:

“The crown of Kiani was just a show,

All was merely a spectacle.”

Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto was a brilliant student of global history. He recognized the importance of passing historical examinations.

Bhutto was a great leader, not just in terms of his physical stature but also in his geographical influence. Such a towering leader was unacceptable to the United States. How could the U.S. accept a ruler in Pakistan when its president had openly acknowledged the truth, saying, “Thank God he is not American and not in my opposition party”? A person whose knowledge, intellect, and public support made his words resonate not only with the eight kings of the Arab nations but also with Chairman Mao Zedong, who listened to him with great consideration.

What significance did the PNA (Pakistan National Alliance) hold in front of such a colossal intellect, which consisted of two mullahs and two smiling faces? This was not an opposition but America itself. It was not just America but the entire global establishment in the form of NATO. The decision was that a great leader would receive a great punishment. Thus, he was hanged.

On the shameful night of April 4, a person was not just executed; the architect of a nation and the voice of its people was silenced. This was the reason why even his opponents were left speechless at his death. Those who harbored hatred for Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto felt tears welling up in their eyes. They felt somehow involved in the murder of the martyr Bhutto, and their inner feelings were not unfounded. Until the very end, Bhutto was not only saddened by the treatment he received but was also deeply concerned about the dangers facing the country. After achieving the remarkable feat of standing a nation that had been divided into two on its feet and gaining recognition in the world, his domestic and foreign opponents felt a growing threat from him and Pakistan.

Although any country requires a stringent system of nationalism and socialism to become a leader like Hafez al-Assad or Gaddafi, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto became the most popular leader of the country through democratic means and with the full support of the people. Therefore, his opposition did not only come from the right but also began to prick the hearts of those on the left, who started to feel that Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto was becoming Pakistan's Napoleon Bonaparte. His only crime was that he loved the people intensely and drew strength from them. For him, nothing else mattered. What mattered was that he would proudly light the lamps of hope in the eyes of the people with his great purpose.

Martyr Bhutto knew that some people cannot be confined to graves. They continue to resonate in the hearts of people even after death. The desire to attain such a status burned in his heart, expressed not only in his emotional speeches but also in his serious writings.

History has proven that he remains a hero to the people today. History has shown that even half a century later, his political opponents cannot help but salute him. This is because he has transcended into the hearts of the people and continues to be passed down from generation to generation. His death and subsequent political life have validated Ayaz's words:

“You will find me, sweet as the death of a beloved,

Until the end, I will live, as if I am still alive.”

His politics were sincere. His people were his strength. Although he sang like every Sindhi person and once stated, he not only said but also wrote, “I am the prince of Sindh.”

He was abducted in the dead of night. This prince was adorned in the darkness of night and could not be silenced by the voice of the people in the country’s highest court at any time. When he passionately declared, “His hanging is a judicial murder,” this thought will always breathe in the minds of the country’s intelligent citizens, that a time will come when the Supreme Court will attempt to wash away the stain of martyr Bhutto's blood from its hands, and this is what is currently happening in Islamabad.

The Chief Justice of the country, Qazi Faez Isa, recently acknowledged that the case of martyr Bhutto did not proceed transparently in terms of law and justice. Martyr Bhutto continues to be a fusion of grief and anger in the hearts of the people. Currently, if a special reference is being heard in the Supreme Court by a bench of nine judges regarding the case of martyr Bhutto, then more shadows of politics than truth are being cast. Until now, General Zia has not been mentioned in the case as he should have been. Can the acknowledgment of martyr Bhutto’s judicial murder by the court bring justice to the tragedy that currently looms over the country like an eclipse?

The murder of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto was carried out by the judges of that era at the behest of General Zia. Therefore, this murder cannot be forgiven under any circumstances. If any party thinks that through this reference, the democratic and public sentiment of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto will be buried, then it is a historical blunder. Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto resonates in the hearts of the people and will continue to do so. The bell of justice for the people will always ring.