Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, the man who changed the meaning of politics in Pakistan. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was the first person who stood for the ordinary people of Pakistan whose voices went unheard in a country full of people with ‘elite class’ status. A status only granted to those on the very upper echelon of society, the richest and most powerful people in the region.
Being elite never gave people the authority to ignore or silence people weaker or lower than them, instead it meant being their voice. Speaking for the outspoken, protecting the abused, understanding the issues plaguing the classes lower than them and fixing said issues. Being elite meant making sure everyone, regardless of social class could live and prosper in this country together in harmony. This is even more evident when considering the fact that Pakistan was formed with the idea of upholding Islamic values and instilling a sense of brotherhood and camaraderie amongst the people living in it. Instead of this, the title of ‘elite’ only elaborates on how a person lives in wealth and luxury, driving flashy cars, wearing expensive clothes, ignoring all those around them considered to be in a lower class.
When Bhutto came into power, he struggled and fought for the struggling middle and lower class in Pakistan. His slogan was ‘Roti, Kapra aur Makaan maang raha hai har insaan’, roughly translating to ‘Bread, cloth and a home is what every person wants’. These are essentials every human needs to survive, and any country or society which doesn’t grant its citizens these necessities is bound to be plagued with chaos. Mahatma Gandhi said that ‘hunger is the mother of all evil’, and a hunger for essentials needed for survival which should be provided for and given to everyone lay the foundation for a corrupt and broken society. Bhutto knew that this disparity would cause pain and misery to hundreds of thousands and sought to change that.
Wealth is not that only discriminating factor in Pakistan. Before its independence, Muslims of the subcontinent lived under ‘The Two Nation’ theory, but unfortunately, even after becoming a separate country the discrimination didn’t cease and people still heavily discriminated against each other. Bhutto was a Sindhi, meaning he had to face immense discrimination leading to him struggling more, sacrificing more. He had to sacrifice his life and his family for his country, Pakistan. That was the price he paid to make all his work mean something.
He not only founded the Pakistan People’s Party, but also founded democracy in Pakistan. Before him, all major political figures were either dictators or slaves of those dictators, but Bhutto chose to be different. He chose to be good. He chose to be an independent leader whose main agenda was to benefit not himself, but his fellow countrymen. To make Pakistan a better place to live for all its citizens, irrespective of their status or class.
His actions led to Pakistan getting atomic power thus making it more powerful in the eyes of the world. His actions and intentions inspired the king of KSA, King Faisal to gift Pakistan the Faisal Mosque, which is one of it’s biggest and most noteworthy mosques as a sign of respect and a token of appreciation. It’s unfortunate that this mosque became the final resting place of General Zia, one of Bhutto’s greatest adversaries and dictators.
Bhutto was not biased for just the good of his people, he wanted good for all. Bengalis, known as East Pakistanis at the time were abused and by current Pakistanis. They were discriminated against, they lost their jobs, their women were harassed. They were treated as sub-human. Bhutto saw this and he signed a pact with Indira Gandhi, giving total independence to Bengal and declaring it as Bangladesh, making it an entirely separate nation so that those living there would have easier and better lives. He truly left the world a better place than how he found it.
All this proves that Zulfikar Ali Bhutto is much more than just a name. It’s an ideology.