Share this article
Print this page
Email a friend
- RSS
- Today's Paper
- Subscribe
- beta 2.0
High: 33°C
Low: 27°C
Alerts
Reunited after 32 years: Begum Bhutto joins ZAB in Garhi Khuda Bux
President Zardari, Bilawal lower body into grave as Ghinwa, Fatima organise prayers in absentia.
President Asif Ali Zardari and his son Bilawal Bhutto carry the coffin of former first lady Begum Nusrat Bhutto during a funeral ceremony in Naudero, Larkana. PHOTO: AFP
NAUDERO: A final farewell for a woman who had been out of the public eye since the ’90s ensured that she will be remembered for many years to come.
The iconic Begum Nusrat Bhutto, the former first lady who has been christened the Mother of Democracy, was laid to rest in the Bhuttos’ ancestral graveyard in Garhi Khuda Bux, right next to her husband, Pakistan’s first democratically-elected prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. Her sons Mir Murtaza and Shahnawaz and her daughter, two-time prime minister Benazir Bhutto, are buried in the same compound.
Begum Bhutto’s only surviving progeny, Sanam Bhutto, arrived at the Sukkur Airport half an hour after the plane carrying Begum Bhutto’s body arrived from Dubai, where she passed away on Sunday.
Sanam was accompanied by her sister Benazir’s husband, President Asif Ali Zardari, and children Bilawal, Bakhtawar and Aseefa Bhutto-Zardari.
Interior Minister Rehman Malik also accompanied them, while Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani landed shortly at the airport with a group of federal ministers, including Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar and Defence Minister Ahmed Mukhtar.
After a hurried guard of honour at the airport, Begum Bhutto’s coffin was taken by helicopter to Naudero House, where funeral prayers were scheduled to be held.
Funeral prayers and burial
Grief-stricken jiyalas and leaders of the Pakistan Peoples Party, including members of the party’s Central Executive Committee and Sindh ministers, descended upon Naudero House to pay their last respects to the woman who had kept the party together after the PPP founder was hanged by General Ziaul Haq’s regime.
Rivals and allies alike reached Naudero to attend the funeral prayers. A four-member delegation of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, comprising Ghouse Ali Shah, Iqbal Zafar Jhagra, Babu Sarfraz and Salim Zia, arrived at Naudero while a seven-member delegation of Muttahida Qaumi Movement, including Dr Farooq Sattar and Dr Sagheer Ahmed, was also present. An ambulance then took Nusrat Bhutto’s body to Garhi Khuda Bux, a 15-minute drive from Naudero, where her son-in-law Zardari and grandson Bilawal lowered it into the grave.
A number of attendees, including the prime minister, returned to Naudero House immediately after the burial while the president and his children stayed at the mausoleum, receiving mourners.
Former Sindh home minister Zulfiqar Mirza, whose recent public rift with the president and interior minister had made headlines, did not attend the funeral prayers but was present at the Garhi Khuda Bux mausoleum and later went to meet the president at Naudero House.
Funeral in absentia
But while Begum Bhutto successfully kept the party together after her husband’s death, she could not bring her family together in death.
Her older son Murtaza’s daughter Fatima Bhutto and wife Ghinwa Bhutto, who heads the PPP-Shaheed Bhutto faction, refused to attend the funeral and organised one in absentia at Al-Murtaza House, Larkana.
“No one informed us about her death,” Ghinwa told reporters. “My children even went to Dubai many times to meet their grandmother but how could PPP leaders arrange a meeting for them in Dubai since Zardari had held her hostage?”
Her son Zulfiqar Ali Junior, she said, was willing to attend the burial but couldn’t reach on time as police at Sukkur Airport created hurdles.
“She was my mother. It is extremely sad that her body will not be buried by the Bhutto family. It should first have been brought to 70 Clifton before being taken to Garhi Khuda Bux,” she said.
However, Presidential spokesperson Farhatullah Babar said that Zardari had invited Ghinwa and her children to Naudero House for the funeral. “There should be no politics over her death. Everyone regardless of political and family differences is welcome to participate,” he quoted the president as saying.
(Read more: Nusrat Bhutto – the woman, wife and mother)
(With additional reporting by Hafeez Tunio in Karachi and Sarfaraz Memon in Sukkur)
Edited by Zainab Imam
Published in The Express Tribune, October 25th, 2011.
Read more:
nusratbhutto
Related Videos
Reader Comments (50)
Latest News
Taking lives
Do we want to have a system of capital punishment in a police and judicial system as flawed as ours?
Battling the monster of sectarianism
The CII seeks to organise a movement against the sweeping threat of sectarian violence in the country.
Two ‘victors’ under pressure
Pakistan’s economy is lurching, because of America’s punitive measures and Pakistan’s international isolation.
The French were always the leaders
French intellectuals were quick to recognise the artistic potential of cinema.
Going cuckoo over a coup
Shekhar Gupta, editor-in-chief of The Indian Express, wants Rs100 crore from his peer, Outlook’s Vinod Mehta.
Recent Slideshows
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, redistributed or derived from.
Unless otherwise stated, all content is copyrighted © 2012 The Express Tribune News Network.
Technical feedback? webmaster@tribune.com.pk
Using flowers for either worshiping or showing respect is a Hindu ritual.
I wonder why they follow this in the so called land of pure….
Recommend
She was just like mother for millions of Pakistanis.
A great loss to the nation and to people of Pakistan.
May Al-Mighty Allah rest her soul in peace. Ameen.
Recommend
He had no right to bury her.Recommend
for God sake. this z a time 2 set aside differences and pay respects 2 the departed soul. i am sick of these mother-daughter(ghinwa-fatima). nusrat bhutto z a human being not a property 2 be handed over 2 some1 as their rightful heir. her daughter sanam bhutto z still alive. and has just lost her loving mummy . feels really sad after reading this news. one cant comprehend what sanam bhutto, last surviving child of zulfikar bhutto would be going thru as she has now lost all her family members. begum sahiba, may u rest in peace(ameem) and Allah give strength 2 ur near and dear ones 2 bear the lossRecommend
RIP Mohtarma Nusrat Bhutto.Recommend
What a shame that even a death is politicized…. What a sorry state of affairs! RIP Nusrat and may your grand-kids manage to rise and work towards the betterment of PakistanRecommend
@ zingo please get a life -do you really think it is the right time to relate flowers with some religious traditions?
I wonder when will we out-grow our restrained minds and absurd sense of questioning!
Recommend
May God bless your soul Amin
Recommend
She truly deserve this! RIP Great lady!!
Recommend
May Allah grant her peace in jannat – Ameen
Recommend
@Naila:
her Son-in-Law has served already a lot for betterment of Pakistan, what else you are asking for ?
Recommend
What a tragic life she had.Recommend
@zingo:
May the 180 million Muslims of Pakistan remind you that burial is not a Hindu ritual. By calling it a Hindu practice, you are insulting all the Pakistanis. Please leave the land-of-the-pure pure, and take your version of Islam back to Saudi Arab; we reject your adulteration.
Recommend
As a mother whose children were slaughtered one by one by the rogue elements ( everyone knows who they are ) of this land of pure , our deepest condolence on the demise of this lady who braved unafthomable agony and pain on the loss of her children .
We have severe differences with Peoples party and with late Benazir or Murtaza but it is altogether inhuman to witness Zulfiqar Bhutto ,Shanawaz , Murtaza and Benazir eliminated one by one by the “mighty and invisible force ” (we all know who ) , never to be unearthed , never to be brought to justice .
Will there be any justice ever ? Ms.Nusrat Bhutto ,no matter who or what she was , had the right ,as a mother to see atleast the murderers of her children brought to justice .
RIP Mrs. Bhutto . May you be bestowed with eternal peace against the inhuman mortal suffering you went through in this life .
Recommend
First of all, condolences to the family for the pass away of the lady who lost her husband, two sons and the daughter. The democracy whatever the shape in it we have, this family had contribution to it.
I should not derail this discussion into politics but @Saima, hats off that you still say her son-in-law has done lot better to Pakistan and its people. You are right and yes he and his government has contributed a lot by increasing the sufferings of common people in Pakistan. So please let this discussion focus on the sad demise of Begum Nusrat Bhutto…
MIR
Recommend
But i m surprising here …. Why Benazir Bhutto is awarding nothing ? Not even a single tittle when people are being awarded Ph.D degrees ???Recommend
What is the basis of a 10 day official mourning in Pakistan? She did not hold any official post.
Recommend
Begum Nusrat Bhutto!
May you rest in peace. The military rulers of this country were supposed to protect you, your husband, and your children. They failed you. We couldn’t prevent what happened to you, because we were frightened. But deep inside our heart, we continued to acknowledge the courage, the sacrifices and the struggle of you and your family.
Ms Sanam Bhutto!
Our heart goes out for your loss. We owe tremendously to the few mad persons, who sacrificed themselves and their loved ones for our voice, our rights, and our freedom. And your family will always remain at the very top of them.Recommend
It was very very sad news for me. I shall offer Fateha Khawani after tomorrow after the burial of the Mother of Pakistan and our beloved great PPP’s Quaid-e-Awam Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s wife on her sorrowful demise.
Recommend
Nawaz Sharif or his representative should also attend the funeral and bury …Recommend
“When a country becomes a family business, shutting down the shop upon a death in the family is to be expected” – Ali Moin Nawazish
Recommend
@Zarmeena Ikram Babar:
Well it doesn’t really make any sense to what Zingo has to say. But it certainly makes sense in
country which treats minorities like a piece of dirt given the fact that Mrs. Bhutto was a minority Shia by birth.
Recommend
@Imran:
Cremating was not an option in Saudi Arabia in ancient times for the simple reason there were no trees to burn in a desert environment. (Wood was really a scarce item). With the advent of modern technology like electricity switching to cremation makes sense.
Cremating kills all the infection (most of the virus don’t get killed by burying) and doesn’t consume land for burial grounds.
If 7 billion people taking up 2 feet X 6 feet of burial ground each, it would have a devastating impact in terms of the land that is lost for burial grounds. BTW cremation is not the only way Hindus follow, there are many sects within Hindus who follow burial as well.
But whatever, may the soul of Mrs Begum Bhutto rest in peace….
Recommend
@ Zingo,
7 Billions will not gonna die at a time so dont worry there is lit of place to burrying the deads and in Saudia arabia even before islam peoples used to buried there dead one.
and last thing how could some body burn his or her mother father..??Recommend
@Zingo
Cremation is very environment unfriendly. First you have to cut a whole tree or half a large tree to cremate one human being. Second the smoke harms the environment third the place where cremation occurs cannot be used for any agricultural purposes.
On the contrary with Burial, no trees are cut..in fact there are many trees in graveyards. Also the human body mixes with the soil increasing the nutrients of the soil.
Also if 7 billion humanbeings were to be cremated, you will have to cut off 7 billion trees..what a great loss to the planet earth considering that trees produce oxygen!
Hence our Creator has instructed us to be environmentally friendly.
Back to the topic, may ALLAH grant Begum Nusrat Bhutto paradise.
Recommend
It is a sad occasion …Recommend
I really feel sorry for her having been completely ignored and forgotten for last 17 years during which time she remained terminally sick in Dubai. Nobody had stopped Ghinwa, sanam, or Asif Zardari,or Bilawal to look after her. Another death being politicized.
Recommend
« “The Bhutto narrative is beyond history. It belongs to the realm of legends. The nation is once more united in their collective grief for a family whose sacrifices remain unparalleled in our lives.”
When the Indian Muslims were struggling for a separate country (Pakistan), Bhutto were absent.
In the early stages when Pakistan needed all the help of the qualified persons Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto was enjoying a good life (with an Indian National Passport) as a Pasha in Bombay.
He appeared during the reign of the first dictator (Ayub Khan) of Pakistan. What he did is known to all Pakistan.
His best achievement is the present Islamic Constitution which has transformed simple “Pakistan” into an “Islamic Republic”. Under this constitution Pakistan will be always a religious State.Recommend
@Naila: Have I gone rather blind and deaf? Which politics? It has been done the way a Muslim Sindhis do.
Recommend
How do the Saudis mourn the death of its Crown Prince. No holiday and no mourning period. In contrast what we being a poor nation declare national holiday for a person whose own family had virtually abandoned her for treatment at a middle class hospital in Dubai for past so many months. Just reading the comments makes a a sane person sickRecommend
Jung reported that three planes landed in Sukkur earlier. One plane arrived in from Dubai carrying the body of Begum Bhutto, the second plane was carrying President Zardari, his children, Interior Minister Rehman Malik, Federal Minister for Power Raja Pervez Ashraf, Senator Babar Awan, Religious Affairs Minister Khursheed Shah and Begum Nusrat’s daughter Sanam Bhutto, while the third plane was carrying Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani.
so much waste of jet fuel :(
Recommend
@Ali Tanoli:
Agreed about your emotional feeling. But what difference does it make if it burned, or buried, or throwen into sea or into space. After all it is a dead and lifeless body.
Recommend
@Asad:
For cremating one doesn’t need wood. All that is needed is 220V electricity.
A country like Maldives is suffering from acute shortage for burial ground. Same with Japan, hongkong etc..
Even in big cities in Pakistan space for the burial ground doesn’t come cheap. 7 billion people won’t die over night. But in the next 100 years they are certainly going to run out of space for sure. Not to forget millions have already been buried until now make those land totally unusable.
BTW to burn a lifeless piece of flesh one not necessarily has to use wood, one can use coal, oil, electricity, laser etc.All that is left is just few grams of ash which can be thrown back into the elements.Recommend
This is just an example of the lengths people will go to for power. Even if it destroys their whole family. It’s a drug. Let’s not make martyrs out of these people. Our brave soldiers protecting our borders, they die for our country – not politicians.
Recommend
@Pundit. She did hold important positions in the 70s. I will just end my note on this.
Rest In Peace Mrs. Bhutto. No one, i mean no one in Pakistan can even comprehend what she went through. 34 years of torment is enough to shake the very belief in humanity, yet she did not sway.
Recommend
Her Funeral has costed millions to the Taxpayer. Sad but true.
Recommend
@Mohammad Ali Siddiqui:
Fatima Jinnah is the mother of this nation….
Recommend
Apart from everything , She was an incredible mother who remained a sign of valour and fortitude ! RIP Nusrtat Bhutto . . .you could not get peace here but surely will get hereafter !Recommend
From what I hear she was a good woman. However I cant wait to see the last of her family in PK politics.
Recommend
@Naila:
When Life is politicised death will be !
Recommend
did anyone notice that a guy committed sucide in front of parliament house because of unemployment does anyone care that hundreds of labourers are starving becuase thier industry is shut due to lack of electricity, does anyone care that hundreds of people have lost thier lifes in target killing in karachi and does anyone care that the gas will be shut this winter and our economy and industury have to face tough time again
Recommend
@Ali: And the headlines in Todays TET is that the Govt has set a target of 10% ( ooops that figure rings a bell)savings in expenses.
Recommend
Alas!! The family tradition of death by unnatural means was not kept!! Or was it???
Recommend
@AZ: According to the TET”The iconic Begum Nusrat Bhutto, the former first lady who has been christened the Mother of Democracy”
For all the love and respect , a former first lady is not entitled to 10 days of mourning.
My request is not to make Pakistan look like a banana republic.
Recommend
What right does he and his kids have on the body? It should have been Murtaza Bhutto’s family/kids to have performed all rites…Recommend
Begum Sahiba, We wish you eternal peace. You were a leader yourself and wife of one of the greatest leaders Pakistan ever had.Recommend
RIP
Recommend
@GetRidOfFeudalPolitics:
She was the last politician in her family. Its the Zardaris in charge from now on.
Recommend
Now its time to take the seat of chairperson of Pakistan peoples party by butto family. and i request to all Pakistani peoples to support the real Butto family. joiner Murtaza Butto and fatima butto……………………….
PPP made by butto family and they have right on his Grand father property and also on PPP Pakistan peoples party…………..
Butto Family has there right on his created party by his / her Grandfather party…………..
Butto Family Zindabad
Fatima Butto Zindabad
joiner Murtaza Butto Zindabad.Recommend
@Mohammad Ali Siddiqui:
Fatima Jinnah is/was and will ever remain mother of this nation. (PERIOD).
Recommend