Daily Times

Relations between Pakistan and India have remained on a see-saw mould since their inception as independent states. There have been three wars and in between many war-like situations. Although there is no standoff, the existing tense relations do not provide any comfort for a better tomorrow. What has added to this grim scenario is the latest report in The New York Times. In its new assessments it is suggested that India is considering allowing for pre-emptive nuclear strikes against Pakistan’s arsenal in the event of a war. One expects Pakistani diplomats to draw the attention of the global community of an inevitability of a nuclear war between the two countries now fully loaded with atomic weapons.

Indeed, disclosure by New York Times provides us an opportunity to pay tribute to the great leader — Zulfikar Ali Bhutto — who gave Pakistan nuclear teeth and his daughter Benazir Bhutto — who enabled it to have long range nuclear-head carrying missile technology that we so now proudly display on our national day celebrations without mentioning to both of Pakistan’s great leaders and their contribution to make Pakistan invincible. Martyred Zulfikar Ali Bhutto (April 4, 1979) — gave us our nuclear edge at the cost of his life. His Army Chief General ZiaulHaq killed him to remain power and to please his American masters who had warned Bhutto of making a horrible example if he pursued his nuclear agenda.

Bhutto had a very broad perspective of Pakistan’s history. He had realized that the permanent tug-of-war like situation between India and Pakistan has had extremely devastating impact on Pakistan. He changed the whole structure of politics in Pakistan — taking it out from the cool comforts of drawing rooms — to the scorching heat in the streets, lanes and by-lanes — he gave the poor and the shackled a voice and made them source of all power. The struggle started by him continues. It is yet to be decided as to who is the sole arbiter of power. It was only for a brief period — five years under ZAB — that masses had the taste of power. Ever since his execution in 1979 they are paying the price for having tasted it.

Long periods of successive dictators, their oppressive rules, and revival of the vested interest and resurgence of retrogressive religious forces have brought us to such a pass that we now pray for another Bhutto. Only Bhutto could have got the subcontinent 43 years of peace.

Indeed we would not have travelled this far had the path not been strewn with the blood of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, his daughter Benazir Bhutto and thousands of their followers. Theirs’ was a lifelong struggle for the empowerment of the people — especially the women and the minorities. After the most ignominious surrender in 1971, ZAB picked up the pieces and gave the nation renewed hope and confidence in its destiny.

ZAB’s advent in politics was a turning point in Pakistan’s history. He was the youngest minister with ideas in an autocratic Ayub government with generals and senior bureaucrats in cahoots to put their claim to political power. Bhutto was driven by his romance with democracy and freedom for the people as envisaged by the Quaid. He accepted to be part of an unelected regime to see how he could move forward to get the country back to MAJ’s vision. Bhutto, as such, chartered himself on a challenging course that would give a new sense of direction to the people and a fresh meaning to politics.

He opened Pakistan for diverse explorers tapping for our hidden energy resources discovering oil and gas deposits and he set Pakistan onto the path to match India’s advancements in the nuclear technology. ZAB had no match in statesmanship and his skills in international politics. He untied Pakistan from the American apron strings. He rejuvenated Pakistan’s independence by consolidating relations with China, European nations and the Third World. And the Islamic Summit that he held in Lahore remains to this day unsurpassed in its glory.

Gen Zia’s lust for power pushed Pakistan back into dark ages. He ruefully lamented before his execution: “In the process they have robbed the nation of the high ideals and spirit of fraternity the people shared and demonstrated in 1947.”

One would not expect those who had opposed to support ZAB’s mission to carry forward torch of MAJ’s secular Pakistan. With Shaheed Benazir Bhutto gone, it is now incumbent upon the PPP leadership — and its diehard workers to get organised, work on a left of the centre manifesto, carry forward the torch of democratic freedom fueled by the Bhutto blood. There should not be any compromise on the supremacy of the Parliament, empowerment of the people and equality for all its citizens, irrespective of caste, creed, colour or gender, rule of law, independence of judiciary, freedom for media and a firm reiteration that religion shall have nothing to do with the business of the state.

The author is a former High Commissioner of Pakistan to the UK, longtime advisor to Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and a veteran journalist