Senate pays rich tributes to Nusrat Bhutto

Paying rich tributes to Nusrat Bhutto, Upper House of Parliament on Wednesday said principle of democratic struggle preached by Begum Sahiba helped topple dictatorial regimes in Pakistan and through her struggles she proved that it is more effective to 'fire off a tweet than to fire a gun'.
The House passed unanimous resolution by suspending the business to pay homage to late Nusrat Bhutto. They said that Nusrat Bhutto lived by the conviction that only democracy could usher in a peaceful future. The resolution, moved by leader of the House Syed Nayyar Hussain Bukhari after consensus among senators belonging to all political parties, said that Begum Nusrat Bhutto was a seasoned parliamentarian and her death is not only a loss to the family but also a loss for people of Pakistan.
"She was a woman of substance and a woman of many graces...her strong personality as a leader, as a mother and as a wife remained a motivating force and a source of strength not only for her family but also for the entire nation," the resolution added. From the very aftermath of partition in 1947, when hordes of refugees started pouring into Pakistan, it added, Begum Nusrat Bhutto then Nusrat Khanum, engaged herself in relief operations as a young woman from the Women's National Guard.
The resolution said that her devotion and struggle for democracy and women of Pakistan despite all challenges including tragic loss of her husband, two sons and a daughter stand as a beacon for all. "Begum Nusrat Bhutto was an icon for democracy and humanitarian work and her struggle for oppressed and downtrodden workers and their empowerment will always be remembered," it added.
Speaking on the occasion Raja Zafarul Haq of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) said that Begum Nusrat Bhutto struggled hard for democracy during her life and played an active role at national as well as international forums. Recalling one of her speeches, made in Geneva in 1993, he said that she was a great lady who effectively projected Pakistan's principled stance on Kashmir and received standing ovation from the participants of the conference.
When she mentioned Kashmir issue in the middle of her speech, he added, the Indian delegation made an objection, which she responded: "Who are you to interrupt when I am making a speech". In response to the objection, Raja Zafarul Haq recalled that she began to deliver her speech from the beginning and got a standing ovation from the participants. "She was such a brave lady...she can not be forgotten," he added.
Azam Khan Swati of Jamiat-e-Ulema Islam-F (JUI-F) said that Begum Nusrat Bhutto was a great woman. He said that she fought for strengthening of democracy and achieved her goal. "Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was the luckiest man to have a wife like her who stood by his side through thick and thin", he added. Haji Adeel of Awami National Party (ANP) said that Begum Nusrat had a very painful life as a woman, wife and mother. Her life was full of tragedies and she faced all the challenges with courage and grace after death of her husband, which is commendable.
He said ANP fully supported the Movement for Restoration of Democracy (MRD), launched by Begum Nusrat Bhutto after judicial killing of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto against General Zia-ul-Haq. The people can never forget the movements when she sustained injuries during a protest against General Zia at Gaddafi Stadium Lahore, he added. Paying tribute to Nusrat Bhutto, Senator Hasil Bizinjo said that it was she who challenged to a military dictator and struggled for restoration of democracy in the country. When we talk of her greatness, Bizinjo said, it was Nusrat Bhutto, who handed over position of PPP chairperson to her daughter late Benazir Bhutto, which is not an easy task.
Senator Abdur Rahim Mandokail said that the main purpose of making ARD by Nusrat Bhutto was to eliminate the dictatorship, in which she succeeded. "She united all political parties except Jamat-e-Islami to stand up against the military dictator and finally the autocratic rule of General Zia ended...without her struggle it was not possible," he maintained. Senator Nelofar Bakhtyar said Nusrat Bhutto was an ideal women political leader and every woman in politics wanted to have a glimpse of her because she was an icon and "I'll definitely miss her being a political worker," she added.