Benazir Bhutto on Thursday evening became the latest high profile politician to become the target of mindless terrorism. The two times Prime Minister of Pakistan and possibly a third time was annhilated by a bomb from a crazed assassin, who some say vowed allegiance to the dreaded Al Qaeeda or as others claim was a member of President Musharraf's secret service ISI. Well whomever group the terrorist belonged to he managed to bring the curtains down to a legacy which always remained an enigma both in the native country Pakistan as well as internationally.
Benazir's father Mr. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was one of the only democratically elected Prime Ministers of Pakistan which has mostly been ruled by Army juntas throughout its 60 years of Independence.
Whereas its neighbour India has been a shining beacon of democracy. Mr. Bhutto was deposed by another army general Gen. Zia-ul-Haq and sent to the gallows on various trumped up charges. After this the entire Bhutto family went on a self exile for some period.
From its inception Pakistan remained a favourite of the US which pumped in billions of dollars of aid most of which got directed into the huge coffers of the army, it always remained as the biggest factor in all things involving Pakistan. Whereas the country faced sectarian violence, widespread economic inequality , poor economic and industrial growth and other problems. The army preyed on the psyche of fear and loathing towards its neighbour India and grew stronger ever. It fought 3 wars all of which it lost but rather than getting brow beaten by the political system it grew even stronger. Then came Afghanistan, which was foolishly invaded by the USSR in the late 70's and Pakistan became the staging ground for clandestine operations by the CIA and other western powers who wanted to make it the "Soviet's Vietnam ". Billions of dollars worth of arms and ammunition was pumped in to arm the "Mujahadeen" as well as encourage narcotics trade to finance even more deadly weapons. All this only strengthened the army and radicalized entire sections of society who were taught that they were fighting a Holy war or "Jihad" against the Soviets.
But after some years it was the return of the prodigal daughter who came back to Pakistan with democracy and peace on her lips. The people of Pakistan welcomed such a change and in the 1988 elections her party, The Pakistani People's Party(PPP) won the largest no. of seats in the General Assembly. And she at 35 years of age became the youngest PM of Pakistan. Although in 1990 her government was dismissed on charges of corruption. Again she was re-elected in 1993 being dismissed in 1996 for corruption charges. Although she promised a lot of changes for Pakistan namely in the areas of women empowerment. She hardly delivered on any of them. But she became a serious threat to the Sindhi elite who were terrified of her moves of de-feudalising the country out of their hands.
She and her husband Mr Ali Zardari were accused of corruption and graft charges amounting to millions of dollars, which they vehemently denied. Although the Swiss, Polish and French governments all initiated corruption cases on the couple and gave various details of stashed Swiss bank accounts, huge mansions and various shadow corporations owned by them.
The current President Gen. Pervez Musharraf was staunchly against Mrs. Bhutto and had her exiled outside of Pakistan. And advised her never to return again. But Mrs. Bhutto carried on her political work by travelling throughout the world and highlighting the cause of democracy for Pakistan. In October of 2007 she finally came back to Pakistan under a power-sharing agreement with Gen. Musharraf where she was to possibly become PM for the third time. After the US pressurized the General to initiate the process of democracy and hold general elections which are as of now scheduled to be held in March 08. Though now a big question mark looms over it. The present government offered her clemency in all corruption charges, she in turn stopped lashing out at the general.
She had become the target of suicide bombers right from the point she returned to Pakistan in Oct 07. But was unpreturbed by all this, when finally on 27th Dec, 07 she succumbed to the bullets or bomb of a terrorist.
Although she might not have been a very honest or capable politician, she was a breath of fresh
air in the Pakistani political scene which has seen very little democracy and only authoritative military dictatorships. She was one lady who was not afraid to speak her mind outno matter what the consequences. She held her own amongst the very best and brought glory to her nation in international forums. She also was a pragmatic who wanted to weed out religious fundamentalism and feudal mindsets from the pakistani society which made her a lot of enemies.
She is survived by her husband and three children. may this bold and intelligent stateswoman Rest in Peace. And may her nation become the way she dreamed it to be. . . .
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