Bhuttoism lives on

"I am innocent" were the last words of Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto who defied death and embraced martyrdom. He showed the world how a leader of the people lives and dies. Thirty one years ago he bravely left the world to enter the annals of history where he stands today with other towering personalities who shaped the course of history.
Shaheed Bhutto was brutally and judicially murdered at the young age of 51 by the forces who refused to see Pakistan and its people reach greater heights. The world condemned his murder has he valiantly sacrificed his life for the liberation of humanity from tyranny and oppression. His political vision and foresight was unparalleled. He was the youngest cabinet minister, youngest foreign Minister, youngest elected President and Prime Minister of the country - the undisputable leader of the third world who denounced racism, colonialism and imperialism.
He was the voice of the voiceless and the power of the powerless. Pakistan owes its second rebirth in 1971 to the leadership and guidance of Bhutto who lifted the nation drowning in despair to Himalayan heights motivating them to reach the skies. He not only brought back 90,000 prisoners of war from Indian camps but also the Pakistani territory lost in war. The beauty of the Bhutto era was that every sector flourished. He fought the battle between dictatorship and democracy, between development and backwardness and between empowerment and deprivation to enable his people to shape their own destiny.
To his lasting credit remains the 1973 Constitution, the Simla accord, social reforms, protection of minorities, an egalitarian society, the non-aligned foreign policy and the building of social, economic and military infrastructure of the country. Last but not the least he gave the Islamic world its first nuclear nation. The most important and the most enduring legacy of Shaheed Bhutto was raising the consciousness of the people for democracy.
He won the hearts and minds of the people with his populist politics and revolutionary slogans "Chahta har Insaan Roti, Kapra, Makaa". His Pakistan Peoples Party launched in 1967 emerged as the forceful harbinger of change. No doubt that the PPP continues to be a phenomenon as it grows manifold despite conspiracies and repression let loose by dictatorial regimes. Resilience of its supporters lies in the fact that they all stand steadfastly out of sheer commitment to Bhuttoism. The era of Quaid-e-Awam led to the historic awakening of the people which gave initiative and opportunities to them to improve their lot both for internal as well as international exposure. He drew strength from the farmer, labourer, trader, worker, women and the youth of Pakistan.
Progressive in his ideas, persuasive in their advocacy and persistent in their implementation he endeavored to strengthen state institutions, to dispense socio-economic justice and to establish a stable democracy. Prophetically, he warned of the ploys dictators adopt "don't fall prey to false propaganda. Our opponents have nothing solid to say against us. They can only try to cover their exploitation behind the slogan of "Islam in danger'. They will never accept the responsibilities of their misdeeds. "(Naudero Jan, 5th, 1973).
Today, on his 31stdeath anniversary we pay tribute to Quaid-e-Awam Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto who once led the economically exploited and politically deprived masses in a brave struggle against dictatorship and who raised the bar of the people of this nation to subscribe to high ideals in serving their country and humanity. 'Jiay Bhutto' continues to be the slogan of the oppressed, suppressed, downtrodden masses of Pakistan. The President of Pakistan and Co-Chairman PPP Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani as custodians of the enlightened political ideology of Shaheed Bhutto with unflinching commitment and conviction continue to combat terrorism, democratize state institutions and steer Pakistan to the shores of peace and progress.