KARACHI: Today marks 41st death anniversary of former Prime Minister of Pakistan and the founding chairman of Pakistan Peoples Party, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto.
Bhutto is the most celebrated politician of Pakistan, except of course followed by his daughter – Benazir Bhutto – who followed suit to become a politician after his death. The occasion attracts thousands of followers to his hometown Gadhi Khuda Buksh, to celebrate his life and death which this year could not happen due to coronavirus outbreak.
The PPP leadership has cancelled public gathering at Garhi Khuda Bakhsh Bhutto in Larkana due to coronavirus outbreak in the country.
Bhutto was born on January 5, 1928, in Larkana. He brought about numerous reforms and changes in the governance of Pakistan. He studied law from California and Oxford and served as Foreign Minister of Pakistan in Ayub Khan’s government. He founded the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) in 1967.
Under his leadership, the PPP swept the 1970 election with their populist “roti, kapra, makaan” (food, clothing, and shelter) chant to become the most popular party in the then West Pakistan. He served as the president of the country from 1971 to 1973 and was elected as the prime minister from 1973 to 1977.
One of the biggest achievements of Bhutto’s government was the drafting of the 1973 Constitution, which remains in effect in Pakistan. He is also credited with initiating the country’s atomic programme. His government was overthrown by General Zia-ul-Haq when the General staged a coup in 1977 and imposed martial law.
Bhutto was hanged on April 4, 1979 over murder charges in a trial that some political observers claim a “judicial murder.” His daughter Benazir Bhutto later emerged as first female prime minister of the Muslim world, serving two short terms in office, from 1988 to 1990 and 1993 to 1996.
