Just months after her second tenure in power in August 1990, Mr Zardari was arrested on October 10, on the allegations of attempted murder of Pakistani Businessman Murtaza Hussain Bukhari and extortion allegations. However, Mr Asif Ali Zardari was released in mid-February 1993, with nothing proved against him and charges were eventually dropped as it was proven that the charges were politically motivated. Three years later, Mohtarma rose to power again with the same opposition, the same manipulation, and the same results.
Next time, I saw both mother and daughter crying over the murder of Mir Murtaza Bhutto on September 20, 1996 when he along with his six party workers was shot dead in a suspected police encounter in Karachi. This was the third tragedy for her.
Again in October 1998, the Government of the time indicted Asif Ali Zardari and Benazir Bhutto for the Mehran Gate scandal. Instead Asif Ali Zardari was sentenced to five years in prison, fined $8.6 million and disqualified from holding public office. He was also accused of murdering his brother-in-law Mir Murtaza Bhutto but Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto who was living in London at that time, denounced the decision.
In May 1999, Asif Ali Zardari was brought to a police interrogation center in Karachi, where he was kept awake for four days, beaten, and cut with knives. He was tortured yet he bore the hardship with fortitude. Despite no charge ever being proven against him, he spent eleven and a half years in prison in conditions often unacceptable by human rights standards. He contested parliamentary elections twice while in prison and won both as MNA and as senator. Despite many offers from the government of the time to become approver against Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) or to go abroad under a negotiated political exit but he remained committed to his fight for justice and party goals. He remained in jail from November 5, 1996 to November 22, 2004 for over eight years before being granted bail by the court and hence set free, as not a single accusation against him has been proven till date. I want to ask who is going to bring those 12 years of his youth back to him. He spent 52 percent of his married life in prison upon politically motivated accusations.
The heir of the legacy of Gen Zia kept on chasing both Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto and her husband Mr Asif Ali Zardari and kept implicating them in false cases, which was later proved through taped conversations between the judges and the Ministers of PML-N government.
My association has been with the three generations of Bhutto clan and I sincerely hope to see Bilawal as PM in my lifetime. I pray that God gives him the wisdom and strength to continue to take the mission of his elders forward to bring back the glory of the party being a political party representing the federation
The struggle by Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto for the restoration of democracy in the country bore fruit in 2008, at the cost of life of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto who was assassinated by terrorists on the fateful day of 27 December 2007. After her assassination there were potential threats of turmoil in the country but the wise and timely decision taken by her husband averted the likelihood of these incidents.
He upheld the sovereignty and integrity of the country by raising slogan of Pakistan Khappay. By following the philosophy of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto that “democracy is the best revenge”, Mr Asif Ali Zardari worked for the restoration of complete democracy and thus obliged Gen Pervez Musharraf to resign as President of Pakistan. Mr Asif Ali Zardari was the first democratically elected President who had completed his constitutional tenure of five years. He will stand out in history as the first president who strengthened the federation and stabilized democracy in Pakistan.
His achievements and services to the country and the people as President of Pakistan, inter alia, included restoration of 1973 Constitution through 18th Amendment, transfer of his powers to the Parliament, empowerment of Gilgit-Baltistan through assignment of special status to it, consensus approval of the 7th NFC Award, financial and administrative empowerment of the provinces, initiation of Aghaz-e-Haqooq-e-Balochistan Package, financial protection of 75 lac poor families through Benazir Income Support Programme and distribution of 12 percent share of 80 government institutions among 50 lac workers through BESOS. It is he only who increased Balochistan’s share from 5.1 percent to 9.1 percent in the 7th NFC Award. Allocation of 90 percent quota in all jobs at the Gwadar Port is another contribution to the welfare of Baloch masses.
His major economic reforms include payment of Rs.2 billions as the first installment of Rs.10 billions out of Rs. 120 billion outstanding provincial dues by the federal government, setting up a new record of US $ 17 billion foreign exchange reserves, transfer of 30 percent shareholding out of the federal government’s 50 percent shareholding in Sindak Project to Balochistan, leveling of 10,000 acres of land to be irrigated with Mirani Dam, construction of canals and such several other measures. Conclusion of Pak-Iran gas pipeline agreement and agreement with the People’s Republic of China on Gwadar Project also deserves due credit and appreciation. President Zardari took many concrete measures to help improve the economy and ameliorate the lot of common man. His developmental projects also include the Faisalabad-Multan Motorway, besides construction of thousand miles of roads in different areas. The commencement of CPEC Project with China will forever remain the greatest achievement of his regime.
When I look at Bilawal Bhutto Zardari I see in him a brave leader with wisdom of his mother and courageous political skills from his father. He can be seen taking up the legacy and wisdom of his mother, grandfather and his father Asif Zardari.
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s intellect has been a breath of fresh air for Pakistan’s Politics. Right from the onset of his political life, he has touched on several important issues, such as terrorism and the army’s role in Pakistan, amongst others. Bilawal’s politics is a far cry from the political mudslinging that takes place in our country’s politics every other day.
The sacrifices of Bhutto family and the workers of PPP are unprecedented and PPP has emerged and grown with the tragedies.
I have had the honor of serving with Great ZAB as a Junior Civil servant, with Begum Nusrat Bhutto, Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, and President Zardari and now with Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. My association has been with the three generations of Bhutto clan and I sincerely hope to see Bilawal as PM in my lifetime. I pray that God gives him the wisdom and strength to continue to take the mission of his elders forward to bring back the glory of the party being a political party representing the federation.
The writer is Chairman of think tank Global Eye and former Interior Minister of Pakistan. He can be reached at rmalik1212@gmail .com, and tweets @Senrehmanmalik
Published in Daily Times, November 30th 2018.