About Pakistan Peoples Party
SHAHEED ZULFIQAR ALI BHUTTO
Early Life
The leader of the people, and the founding father of Pakistan Peoples Party, Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was born in Larkana, Sindh on January 5, 1928.
This brave son of the soil carried pain for his people in his heart. He fought all the injustice, cruelty and tyranny the nation was being subjected to, by a dictator. It was his lifelong aim to strengthen Pakistan with democracy, education and the spirit of nationalism. He served Pakistan as a Foreign Minister and Speaker of the National Assembly, but this wasn’t the culmination of the ambitions of service he held for his motherland.
Politics
Pakistan Peoples Party was his solution to the rampant dictatorship and despotism destroying Pakistan. It was also the beginning of an organized struggle for a peaceful and progressive Pakistan, which ensures impartial justice for everyone.
His leadership led PPP to a sweeping victory in 1970 elections. These were the first general elections held throughout Pakistan since Independence in 1947, based on the universal adult franchise and one-man-one-vote. For Pakistan it was the dawn of democracy; for the Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and his comrades it was a great political triumph. The ballot in 1970 was free, fair and honest.
Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s democratic mantra of “roti, kapra, aur makaan” defeated the cruel and autocratic intentions of the enemies of democracy in Pakistan. And while the dictator did his best to undermine the struggles of PPP, Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s government united the country under the 1973 Constitution. It was the only unanimously adopted Constitution in the history of this nation and spite of its many attempted mutilations by military dictators, remains the main reference point for Pakistan’s legal and constitutional system.
Defining Moments
In 1972, Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto signed the historic Simla Agreement with Indian Prime Minister Mrs. Indira Gandhi. As a result, India released 93,000 Pakistani troops and civilians and returned more than 5000 km2 land in West Pakistan. India also agreed to respect the line of control between Jammu and Kashmir resulting from the ceasefire of December 17, 1971. It was thanks to this momentous treaty that both countries put an end to conflict and confrontation, promising to work for the promotion of friendly relations and peace. They agreed to follow United Nations Charter to govern their relations and affirmed to respect each other’s national unity, political independence, and territorial integrity.
On December 30, 1973, he laid the foundation of Steel Mills at Pipri, near Karachi. On January 1, 1974, the Prime Minister nationalized all banks. On February 22, 1974, the second Islamic Summit was inaugurated in Lahore. Heads of States of most of the 38 Islamic countries attended the Summit.
Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto also started monumental land reforms that restricted individual holdings to 150 acres of irrigated and 300 acres of un-irrigated land. The excessive land holdings were taken over by the government, resuming over 800,000 acres of agricultural land to be re-distributed among needy farmers and laborers.
Judicial Murder
In the 1977 general election, PPP won again by a vast majority. However, the Party’s tenure was cut short by a scheming and power-hungry General Zia-ul-Haq who staged a coup in 1977 imposing martial law. Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s popularity threatened the military dictator who ordered the hanging of the PPP leader in 1979 over false charges, bringing an end to what could have been the most definitive era of Pakistan and the Peoples Party.
Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was an outstanding figure in Pakistan’s political history, who will remain unparalleled. His governments aimed at providing ‘Bread, Clothing & Shelter’ to the people of Pakistan, ensuring everyone across Pakistan has access to education and health facilities as well as modern infrastructure. Yes, it was Quaid-e-Awam Bhutto Shaheed, who by his own admission, vowed to make Pakistan a nuclear power. In an interview with the Manchester Guardian in 1965, he said, “We(Pakistan) will eat grass, even go hungry, but we will get one of our own (Atom bomb) … We have no other choice!”
On his 51st birthday, while in a death cell of Rawalpindi jail, Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto refused to compromise on his principles even when facing the gallows. His tormentors wanted to break his will and expected him to compromise his honor and principles in return for his life. They failed. And they failed miserably.
The people of Pakistan will always remember him as a dynamic and charismatic leader. Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto gave the subjugated people of this country a reason to hope for a better future; he gave them a sense of dignity, he gave them pride in being a Pakistani.
Original Manifesto
His ideologies are outlined in the first Manifesto of the Party, which include:
- Islam is our Faith
- Democracy is our politics
- Socialism is our Economy
- All Power to the People
Great leaders are known for the indelible imprints they leave permanently for posterity. Martyred Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was the most prominent leader of Pakistan to have done that in the 20th Century. His ideologies cannot be killed because they are alive in the heart of each Pakistani for he brought power to the people, that no dictator can dare take away. Millions of Pakistanis still mourn the extrajudicial murder of Quaid-e-Awam Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.
For Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, politics wasn’t an end but a means to alleviate the suffering of the masses and standing up for their rights. Historian Professor Ian Talbot, an authority on Pakistani politics believes that Zulfikar Ali Bhutto “is occupying public space as a charismatic leader arising from coalescing social, political, cultural and economic factors. Bhutto’s charisma was rooted in his embodiment of popular aspirations for social justice”.
His perpetual opponents are still out there, trying to undermine him. But Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto continues to rule the hearts and minds of the people of Pakistan.
BEGUM NUSRAT BHUTTO
First Lady
The wife of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Begum Nusrat Bhutto suffered immense personal loss as her husband was murdered in cold blood by a dictator. She had four children to look after and an entire country to console. She had seen first-hand her husband’s passion and dedication for the people of Pakistan. It fell on her to honor his legacy by continuing his work for the cause of democracy in Pakistan.
The beautiful Iranian-born matriarch became the leader of PPP supporters and Party workers during Quaid-e-Awam’s trial and after.
After Begum Bhutto took charge of the Party, she became the beacon of hope, and they found solace in the bravery of the former First Lady, who fought valiantly against dictatorship.
Begum Nusrat Bhutto braved unspeakable torture, lived through solitary confinement and continued to uphold the ideologies of her late husband, and refused to give up on the journey towards a progressive Pakistan.
Madar-e-Jamhooriat Begum Nusrat Bhutto was leading protestors, as country-wide demonstrations were held against the tyrannical rule of the time.
Suffering
Her suffering is clearly evident in the multiple injuries she received at the hands of dictator’s cronies. Zia’s police beat the protestors with lathis (long heavy sticks) during an uproar at Lahore’s Gaddafi stadium on 16 December 1977. The dictator couldn’t stand the popularity of the democratic fervor of Pakistan Peoples Party. When the spectators spotted Begum Nusrat Bhutto, the whole stadium broke out in cries of “Long live Bhutto!”. The police officers received their orders and Madar-e-Jamhooriat (Mother of Democracy) Begum Nusrat Bhutto was again front-line, at the receiving end of their fury and frustration. Her head injury required 12 stitches, and she was arrested from her hospital bed, even before her wound could be dressed. Finally, as her efforts came to fruition and elections were called again,
Politics
Begum Bhutto was elected Member of Assembly for Larkana in 1988, and she represented the same seat from 1993-96 again. She had the honor to organize first Women Wing of any political party in Pakistan and made the PPP Women Wing into a vibrant sister organization within a short period.
The way she led the democratic forces following the martyrdom of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto by the dictatorial regime, Begum Nusrat Bhutto shall always remain an icon of leadership, courage, and gallantry and shall continue to inspire the democratic people of Pakistan in the future.
Her children and her late husband’s causes remained her foremost responsibilities. Her losses were irreparable as she buried not only her husband but also 3 of her 4 children, a loss no mother should ever have to bear.
Her Death
Madar-e-Jamhooriat Begum Nusrat Bhutto passed away on 23rd October 2011 at her home.
SHAHEED MOHTARMA BENAZIR BHUTTO
Early Life
She saw her country unravel when her father’s life was taken by the cruel dictator. Then she witnessed her mother collect the remnants of a hurting nation, setting aside her tragedy for the greater good of the country.
Along with her mother, the young and resilient first daughter became a symbol of resistance to the military dictatorship of General Zia-ul-Haq. Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto understood the hardship of a righteous life early on, as she was frequently put under house arrest with her mother and younger siblings.
Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto understood the pain his family would have to suffer in the wake of his extrajudicial hanging. In his last letter to his daughter, Quaid-e-Awam writes, “How does a condemned prisoner write a letter of birthday greetings to a beautiful and brilliant daughter fighting for the life of her father, being in bondage herself, knowing that her Mother is suffering the same suffering as herself? It is more than a matter of communication. How would the message of affection and sympathy pass from one prison bar to the other, from one chain to the other?”
Her father, Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s love for Mohtarma Benazir was overwhelming, comparable only to his love for his country and its people. He was well aware of the dark era that would ensue once he wasn’t here anymore. He was confident that she had the talent, courage, and vision to continue the mission which he had been prevented from completing.
As he paid the price for standing firm on his moral principles and democratic beliefs, Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto gave the responsibility in his death cell letter to his “dearest daughter,” and she was thrust into a leadership role, which she undoubtedly lived up to.
Despite these heart wrenching difficult conditions, Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto rose to the occasion with grace, dignity, and strength, undertaking landmark steps for the peace and progress of the country.
Struggle For Democracy
Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto continued the legacy of her father as she endeavored wholeheartedly to make Pakistan a land of her father’s dreams. A Pakistan, for which Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, her father had laid down his life. Benazir felt and saw the sorrows of her nation and struggled to ensure democracy and justice, providing equality to all, strengthening the country so that it worked on laws, and not the principle of “Might Is Right.”
Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto fought and won general elections to become the first woman elected democratically to lead a Muslim country. The detractors of democracy weren’t happy with her election. But she was just as unique as her name. She stood firm against all opposition and continued her journey on the path to democracy.
For the generation of Pakistanis born after General Zia-ul-Haq’s military coup, Benazir was the epitome of democracy and diplomacy. Her political objective was evident in her slogan of ‘Ilm, Roshni, Sab ko Kaam,’ coined for the 2007 Manifesto. She wanted to establish a democratic and a peaceful Pakistan in which people can live in harmony with equal opportunities to all. She believed that Pakistan could play an essential role in bringing the world on one platform and bring about global peace.
It was during her governments, in 1988 and 1993 that for the first time in the history of Pakistan, the press and media were given due rights by the freedom of speech, and political opponents received due coverage. Political prisoners were released, and student unions were restored to ensure the full effect of democracy during the Prime-Ministership of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto.
Achievements
Under her leadership, PPP strongly espoused women’s rights and had pledged to continue her struggle. Shaheed Prime Minister Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto empowered women and improved the literacy rate. She worked tirelessly to eradicate poverty, unemployment, diseases and of course, remove the black stigma of terrorism from Pakistan’s name. She was the first Prime Minister in the history of Pakistan to introduce Lady Health Workers (LHWs), women-only police stations, First Women’s Bank, and appoint lady judges to the High Court.
She courageously fought two military dictators and emerged successfully – an extraordinary, if not unbelievable feat. She rose to the daunting challenges and obstacles in her path, and openly challenged the brutish governments of General Zia-ul-Haq and later General Pervez Musharraf, nationally and internationally. Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto spent five years imprisoned by her father’s tormentors and tyrants who had imprisoned the entire nation. She spent many years in solitary confinement and was exiled from Pakistan. And yet she rose. She rose to become the Prime Minister of Pakistan, not once but twice.
Prime Minister Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto was ousted from legitimate governments – twice – by elements that could not tolerate the forward-looking nation Pakistan was becoming under her guidance. She never surrendered her vision or gave up hope on her people and her country.
The fabric of Pakistani democracy is inextricably woven with her name. A dictator like Pervez Musharraf couldn’t keep her away from her people and her country for very long. He had threatened her “with dire consequences if she returned to Pakistan” in a phone call. He was responsible for providing her security as she came back to her people, yet he replied that provision of security depended on “their mutual understanding and relations.” He not only failed to ensure her security but also played an active role in endangering her life, which led to her assassination.
Assassination
When she returned from her exile in 2007 to a Pakistan bloodied in terrorism, the nation rejoiced and gave her a hero’s welcome.
From Karachi to Kashmir, all of Pakistan welcomed the Daughter of Destiny, home to her people. Her jalsas pulled in massive crowds as the people of Pakistan prepared to overthrow another dictator, rallying together under the leadership of their beloved Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto. On October 18th, 2007, people came out in droves in Karachi for the most prominent political rally the nation had ever seen, welcoming her back as a ray of hope against the dictator Musharraf.
“I put my life in danger and came here because I feel this country is in danger. People are worried. We will bring the country out of this crisis.” Said Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto during the Liaquat Bagh jalsa on 27th December 2007 in Rawalpindi. These astute words from what was to be Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto’s last jalsa, because she was brutally assassinated shortly after uttering these words.
She dreamt of a prosperous and developed Pakistan. However, Mohtarma had also foreseen the declining situation of the world caused by increasing extremism and terrorism. She used to warn the world against the promotion of the extremism and militancy for any political gain. She was of the opinion that, “Extremism today is a challenge. A challenge we must collectively seek to understand and overcome before it overcomes and consumes us and leaves destruction in its wake.” Had the world listened to Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto and understood her vision, today the monster of extremism and terrorism would have been defeated across the nation.
A suicide attacker took the life of a brave, charismatic, and visionary leader, who lived and died for the people of Pakistan. Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto fell victim to the dark forces of tyranny and terrorism in Pakistan. She was martyred during the jalsa at Liaquat Bagh, Rawalpindi. Ironically, the first Prime Minister of Pakistan, Liaquat Ali Khan was also martyred at this very place
Once again, Pakistan lost a dynamic leader, who was later given the title of Shaheed-e-Jamhooriyat, as her life was cruelly taken. The days after her assassination were long and dark, as the nation became uncertain about its future. As fear of a bleak and terrifying tomorrow set in, Pakistanis wept.
From Karachi to Peshawar, shops and businesses closed early. Protestors set tires on fire on the roads, expressing their anger and frustration with General Musharraf’s incompetence at protecting Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto. Violence also broke out in Lahore, Multan, and Rawalpindi where grieving supporters and angry protestors took to the streets. There were widespread reports of self-immolation and mass hysteria ensued.
The nation was inconsolable.
This was when Asif Ali Zardari said ‘Pakistan Khappay’ to everyone who was disillusioned and disheartened. He held up the ideals of democracy, progressivism, and egalitarianism in Pakistan, and the country will never forget his untiring efforts for these causes.
Mohtarma’s fearless journey was cut short in the form of her untimely assassination, which was a cowardly act by the extremists. PPP continues its struggle to make her dreams come true.
PRESIDENT ASIF ALI ZARDARI
Political Victimization
While Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto was still in government, Asif Ali Zardari was often targeted by the opposition’s vicious campaigns to discredit and malign him. He was tortured and jailed without conviction, all in an attempt to keep his wife from her duties as a democratically elected leader.
Many weaker men would have buckled under the pressures. However, Asif Ali Zardari stood by Shaheed Mohtarma through every trial. And he survived the pain and anguish with a smile on his face.
A few years later, when Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto was the opposition leader, Asif Ali Zardari was tortured extensively, which was then hidden up as a suicide attempt when the intent was to murder him. His tongue was cut in another such attempt, but no evidence ever came up against him. They wanted to eliminate the Bhutto family, and as a first step, they went after the spouse of the opposition leader, Mohtarma Bhutto, to weaken her politically and emotionally.
He spent 11 years in Pakistani prisons fighting charges of corruption, again without any convictions on his name. The repeated mental and physical torture, as well as the solitary confinement, left him with a spinal ailment which prevents him from moving around too much to this day. The lack of proper treatment led to further nerve compression. His eyes also suffered due to the long nights when he was made to stand under blazing lights and denied sleep.
The setbacks were not only limited to health issues. Asif Ali Zardari also suffered severe personal traumas because he was unlawfully jailed and kept away from his young children, who needed their father the most. And yet he persevered, only to have his wife, the mother of his children murdered brutally.
And perhaps this is why Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto considered him to be the best person to lead the Party and the nation. She said that “Asif Ali Zardari is the Nelson Mandela of Pakistan.” His stoic suffering made him the natural successor of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto. He was the right person to lead the party at that tragic time after Shaheed Mohtarma’s assassination.
Bringing Unity
His leadership united the Party again and gave Pakistan hope for the future. It was his bravery, patience, and persistence that made him the best possible candidate to lead Pakistan Peoples Party in elections against the dictator Parvez Musharraf. In 2008, Asif Ali Zardari was sworn in as the 11th President of Pakistan.
Presidential Achievements
Asif Ali Zardari’s visionary leadership helped PPP win the election. As the Co-Chairman of the Party and President of Pakistan, he steered a democratic government towards completing its full five-year term, a first in Pakistan’s history.
President Asif Ali Zardari introduced the politics of reconciliation in Pakistan. He brought the country out of the dark era of Musharraf’s tyrannical rule. He continued the policies of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto and released all political prisoners imprisoned during the Musharraf era. No politically motivated cases were registered against the leaders of any political party.
The Party led the call for the passage of the 18th Amendment — a historic amendment to the Constitution which reduced presidential powers and increased provincial autonomy. These powers had been historically used to overthrow democratically elected governments. President Zardari chose to reduce the power of his position for the greater good of the country, strengthening the parliament as a result.
Also, the Party got a consensus on the seventh NFC award which was meant to increase the provinces’ financial autonomy and remove constraints that had traditionally restricted the provinces to work for the betterment of their people.
The PPP-led government also unveiled the Aghaz-i-Huqooq-i-Balochistan package aimed at improving the situation in the province. It included policies regarding electricity generation projects; giving priority over natural gas to the Baloch; giving control of broadcasting and telecasting infrastructure to the provincial government; starting a political dialogue with Baloch stakeholders; facilitating the return of exiled leaders; reviewing the role of federal agencies in Balochistan and the role of the Frontier Corps in law enforcement under the chief minister’s command; withdrawing the Coast Guards’ power to exercise delimitation of borders under the Customs Acts and limiting them to performance of their primary duties only; and giving the provincial government control of check posts in non-border areas.
The Huqooq-i-Balochistan initiative was lauded for generating great results initially. But the project failed to produce the intended results because the subsequent government did not continue its policies.
Vowing to eradicate polio from the country, President Asif Ali Zardari also launched Pakistan’s National Emergency Action Plan 2011 for Polio Eradication by administering polio drops to orphaned children from all the provinces.
The historic Benazir Income Support Programme was also President Asif Ali Zardari’s brainchild. It went on to become the first social safety net and praised internationally as a practical, transparent and a model package for the region.
Then in 2013, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and the President Asif Ali Zardari agreed to build an economic corridor between the two countries. This was the birth of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). This historic agreement further enhanced the mutual connectivity between the two countries and led to the creation of a long-term plan that would give birth to thousands of new employment opportunities to Pakistanis.
President Asif Ali Zardari kept Pakistan together. The whole country was ablaze with fires of terrorism, extremism and economic distress and it was only President Zardari who prioritized the interest of the country, despite the very personal setbacks he had suffered.
CHAIRMAN BILAWAL BHUTTO ZARDARI
Young Leader
From being a young 19-year-old university student, Bilawal was catapulted into Pakistani politics, as he was appointed the leader of Pakistan Peoples Party just three days after the assassination of Shaheed Mohtarma. The country had plunged into chaos, and it fell to this quiet and studious young man to take the stage and restore some semblance of sanity in such trying times.
“I have learned politics from both my father and mother,” said the courageous Chairman. “I engage in progressive politics, learning from the past but looking forward and asking where do I go from here.”
He made sure that the journey she had begun did not end with her martyrdom.
As President Asif Ali Zardari’s completed his term and ensured successful transfer of government to the next regime, the Party looked towards the dynamic Bilawal Bhutto Zardari for leadership. He was elected Chairman right after the assassination of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto and pushed into the limelight as the leader of the most significant political party of Pakistan.
Leadership
The young and fearless Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari is leading the Party and Pakistan, towards a better future while staying true to the ideologies laid by Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. In keeping with the Bhutto legacy, he has vowed to continue the struggle for the supremacy of parliament and democracy.
He has reenergized the Party’s commitment to the original, guiding principle of power to the people. He has revived the traditional support base of the Party with a political zeal that empowers all voters.
Education
The Chairman is an avid student of politics, creating policies that promise to bring out an inherent change in the people’s mindsets. Whether it is defending Pakistan and our armed forces in front of the international media or representing the nation on political forums across the world, Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has made us proud with his eloquence and knowledge. He finished his degree at Oxford, despite being in the limelight.
Under his leadership and guidance, the PPP government in Sindh has achieved many milestones.
Achievements
His first order was to improve the healthcare situation across the province. Modern medical facilities are providing healthcare in Mirpurkhas, Mithi, Umarkot, and Tharparkar where 2,000 patients are treated on a daily basis. Then there are 6 NICVD hospitals across Sindh providing state-of-the-art heart care facilities to the locals.
The Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Trauma Centre at Civil Hospital Karachi is Pakistan’s largest 500 bedded, 14-storey facility. It provided advanced trauma care to thousands of patients every week.
On the other hand, Nawab Shah has seen the construction of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Shaheed Library, Girls Cadet College, and Sports Stadium.
Sindh government also installed biggest reverse osmosis plant of Asia in Mithi in hopes that Thar will never face droughts again. The Thar Coal Project is another part of this setup, providing unprecedented employment and education opportunities to the locals.
Working on educational initiatives, the Sindh government, under the guidance of Chairman, ordered the installation of biometric devices to ensure the full attendance of school staff across government schools in interior Sindh.
New highways, roads, bridges, and underpasses are being built in Sindh. The Hyderabad-Mirpurkhas is a shining example of the infrastructure work being carried out in the province.
Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari is also playing an essential role in promoting interfaith harmony in the province. The Sindh Hindu Marriage Act of 2016 is a clear example of Chairman’s dedication to all the people of Sindh, including the minorities. The law was passed by the Sindh Assembly and became the first legislative initiative in the parliamentary history of Pakistan for the Hindu community.
His policies include empowerment of women, ensuring children’s rights, protection of minorities’ rights and education for all. This is a clear continuation of the promises made by Quaid-e-Awam Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. The diplomatic and political skills of Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari will pave the way for achieving these objectives and improving Pakistan on all fronts.
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