95 years ago today, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, known as Quaid-e-Awam, the pride of Asia was born in the house of Sir Shahnawaz Bhutto in the historic city of Larkana on January 5, 1928.
Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto studied political science at Berkeley University and also taught at the Muslim Law College. Zulfiqar Bhutto also practiced as an advocate in the Sindh High Court for some time. Later, he emerged as an important leader in the country’s politics. He became part of the federal cabinet during Sikandar Mirza’s tenure and participated in important decisions.
Going forward, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto held important positions in President Ayub Khan’s cabinet, including the most important and prestigious positions such as Federal Minister of Commerce, Minister of Information and Broadcasting and Minister of Foreign Affairs, from which Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto emerged as an important leader.
Then in 1967, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto formed the Pakistan People’s Party and in the elections of the year 70, the PPP emerged as an important political party that overshadowed the political horizon of the present Pakistan and the West Pakistan of the past.
The 1970s are of key importance in history. In 1971, Yahya Khan made Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto the president of the country during the tragedy of East Pakistan, and in 1973, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto gave a new unified constitution to Pakistan, with several amendments. However, it is still in force today and is given immense importance.
When Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto became the Prime Minister of Pakistan, he played an important role in making possible the holding of the Islamic Summit Conference in Pakistan. However, East Pakistan seceded from us, but after that Bhutto started nuclear program.
Former army chief Zia-ul-Haq, who took over the rule as a dictator, imposed martial law in the country to control the deteriorating law and order situation after allegations of rigging in the 1977 general elections. Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto was taken into custody.
It was a very turbulent time. In the following year, the Sindh High Court sentenced Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto to death. The Supreme Court rejected the appeal against the decision. Quaid-e-Awam Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto was hanged in Rawalpindi jail on April 4, 1978, which is a dark chapter in the country’s history and even today supporters, activists and sympathizers of the Pakistan People’s Party are protesting against it.
