A leader par excellence

Few people have shaped events of contemporary age in line with their own vision, policy more surely than Bhutto.

Few people have shaped events of the contemporary age in line with their own vision and policy more surely than Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. The way he coped with the most difficult of circumstances and solved the trying problems of his country, made him a legend even in his lifetime — and not only in his own country but also in the rest of the world. He changed the course of history in South Asia, in the sense that his courageous actions and overwhelming influence saved his country from further disintegration and united it with the binding force of Islamic socialism and wide ranging social, political, economic, industrial, labour, educational, administrative and land reforms.

He was the sworn enemy of feudalism which, no doubt, was the canker in the body politic of Pakistan. He did for the progress and prosperity of his country what Lenin had done for the Soviet Union and Chairman Mao for the People’s Republic of China. Post-1971, Pakistan was in the grip of much political chaos and an economic slump. Frustration and uncertainty loomed large over the horizon. Nobody knew what was in store.

Mr Bhutto, however, rose to the task, inspired his nation with new hope and proved his worth by launching bold social reforms and saved his war-weary and famished country from total collapse. He stood like a rock against all odds and achieved national unity with the help of the downtrodden and exploited masses. He was their beloved leader and always advocated the cause of the poor.

Prior to the advent of the Bhutto government, which came into power on December 20, 1971, Pakistan had not enjoyed a democratic constitution in the true sense of the word. Previous constitutions had been framed for the country by self-styled politicians and military dictators. Mr Bhutto had to wipe out the unhealthy and corrupt socio-economic traditions of his predecessors and usher in an era of true democracy and rule of law.

When he came to power, he made it a point to emphasise that the labour class should fully share the country’s prosperity. He also stressed the need for socio-economic development of the poverty-stricken and backward areas that comprise Fata.

Bhutto’s incisive understanding of world forces, mastery of international law, grasp of historical process and historical situations and subtle comprehension of international politics made him eminently suitable to sift facts from fiction and myths from realities. In the words of Dr Henry Kissinger, he was “one of the few world statesmen who had full understanding of forces that shape the modern world.”

It is a pity that this country lost him when he was in a position to give more to it.

Published  in The Express Tribune, January 10^th, 2011.