Benazir Bhutto will always be remembered as a pivot of Pakistan’s democratic transformation and dispensation. She thought and practised beyond her age, and was idealistic to the core when it came to passion with buoying public representation. She fought two dictatorships, undertook exile and was incarcerated for only one goal: dissemination of public representation. Born on June 21, 1953, she would have turned 70 today, had she been alive. Her extermination at a public rally in Rawalpindi’s Liaquat Bagh on December 27, 2007, which incidentally is also the place of murder of Pakistan’s first prime minister, is a mystery to this day. A scion of Pakistan’s charismatic Bhutto dynasty and daughter of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, she simply pushed ahead the mission of her father in empowering the masses and bestowing them the courage to stand fast for their rights under the canons of the law and constitution. This is why Benazir’s life and death will be a role model for democrats, and all those who want to see Pakistan a pluralistic, liberal and welfare state.
The two-time prime minister (1988–90 and 1993–96) set the ball rolling when it came to ushering in a new era in parliamentary politics. Despite heading weak coalitions in both of her tenures, she never compromised when it came to root causes of people’s supremacy. The PPP chairperson endeavoured for a new civil-military contract after a decade of martial law, and went out of her way to oblige her political opponents in striking a debut Charter of Democracy. Notwithstanding a plethora of cases filed against her on alleged misappropriation and misuse of public office, she stood tall and faced the court of law gracefully. This is what makes the Harvard and Oxford educated Benazir Bhutto the darling of egalitarian politics.
Pakistan and democracy are at crossroads today, and in need of taking a cue from her struggle. Upholding the constitution and seeking course-correction from the masses should be the way to go. This is what the deceased leader had preached and practised, and has left behind a proud legacy. She will live on forever in every democratic heart.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 21st, 2023.
Like Opinion & Editorial on Facebook, follow @ETOpEd on Twitter to receive all updates on all our daily pieces.
COMMENTS
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ