7 badass quotes from Zulfikar Ali Bhutto

On his birth anniversary, we reminisce Bhutto's mesmerising speeches that once hypnotised an entire nation

On the morning of April 4, 1979, Pakistan’s first elected Prime Minister, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, was executed on the orders of military dictator General Ziaul Haq.

Before the news of his execution could even reach his legions of followers, Bhutto was laid to rest.

Read: Four years on: Reference on Bhutto case reopening undecided

Bhutto's mesmerising speeches and strong socialist message once hypnotised an entire nation. Here are seven quotes by Bhutto that will forever remain etched in our memories.

1) Yeh qaum eik azeem qaum banayge, yeh qaum dunya ka loha banayge. Qabool hai apko? Tau khidmat karo gay, mehnat karo gay, laro gay, maro gay, aur jado jehad karo gay, eeman say karo gay, Allah ki kasam karo gay?

Translation: This nation will become a great nation, this nation will become the backbone of the world. Is this acceptable to you? So, will you serve, work hard, fight, die and struggle for it? Will you do it with sincerity? Will you swear by God and do it?

2) 

From a letter to his daughter, Benazir Bhutto (June 21, 1978), as published in My Dearest Daughter : A letter from the Death Cell (2007)

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As quoted in The New York Times (July 6, 1973)

6)  I am leaving your security council. I find it disgraceful to my person and to my country to remain here a moment longer than necessary. My country harkens for me why should I waste my time here at the Security Council. You can take your security council, here you are, I am going.

7) "O Lord, help me, for I am innocent" -- His last words before being executed.