Re: Zulfikar Ali Bhutto- 31 years after him
First lets acknowledge here one thing.
Pakistani people worship most of the dead people.
None of the politician has all the credit of good and all the blame of bad.
Bhutto figure is same.
He did many good things and so many horrible acts.
Overall there is no doubt he was a strong politician, a true statesman, a charming leader and a good negotiator.
His mistakes:
1- Not fighting for democracy and not agreeing with power to be given to Mujeeb.
Anwar Pasha cited time from 1958-1971 as a background to somehow legitimize his power greed. But that time was gone. it was his time and he should have protested to yahya for democracy if that is what he is being portrayed as.
His decision to not go along with Mujeeb's call for national assembly caused the civil disobedience in East Pakistan and a means for army brutal acts in East Pakistan and further hatred. He could have stopped it or envisioned it.
2- Nationalizing the banks and other important institutes.
However with same analogy as I cited in point #1, what did other do after him? Why not reform his decision?
3- Bringing notorious quota system in to jobs and education etc. Destroyed a healthy competition. He threw country in to dark ages again as he did with nationalization. Again others followed his bad decision.
4- Did not allow anyone else to become or paved any way to have anyone else to become strong leader in the party. (Jatoi?) A dictatorship in the party was allowed. His own close friends and even his own family fought for power among each other.
Even his own daughter could not do or did not do anything for her brother dying on the street? A tradition of fight in the family and yet his grandson is being talked bout becoming the future leader. Pathetic trend.
5- He brought false hope to illiterate and unskilled people by mobilizing them on the street but still kept the politics in the hands of landlords and did not want to have these people give due share to country by paying taxes.
6- He made Zia the thief-a shady man, a General. Not able to see the future. Perhaps Zia was bigger actor or Bhutto had directions from some other places.
7- He allured people by telling them he was going to make a constitution. But soon after the constitution was signed, he did amendments in it. What a cruel joke. Constitution has been amended so many times.
There were constitutions in 1950s and 60's also by the way. Admittedly not to same level.
8- His cabinet member Kausar Niazi was not even a maulana by his actions. A culture of 'rang raliyan' and nudity was promoted and a casino was built in Karachi-which was later failed. This was despite alcohol was banned for political reason.
Just refer to the magazines, movies, TV programs and digests published in those days.
Zia brought corrupt and criminal Afghanis, heroin and arms/guns,.... he had already brought cheap sex, liquor and charas to streets and neighborhoods.
9- He continued an atmosphere of political rivalry and took it to higher level of using force or extortion.
Good things:
1- Despite him being the first Civil Martial law administrator, he did show consistent power of his party throughout Pakistan. No other party has this credit to date.
2- He brought constitution for the first time in its form at least a bigger ground to play on.
3- Nuclear program.
4- Negotiation with India.
5- Albeit controversial (not sure if it is good or bad), Ahmadi issue. I think when it was asked of Ahmadis what they thought of other people, they said they are Kaafir. So by same analogy, Ahmadi were declared kaafir. However it is still a controversial issue ans should have not been done by and large. Why alienate your own largely good countrymen?
6- Offiicially banning alcohol. The airline took the hit financially and those who wanted to travel to enjoy free booze did not choose PIA. Many would say, so be it.
His speech in security council did not help him in the end.
However, his decision not to bow or seek pardon to evil Zia is commendable and must be acknowledged. Zia perhps knew he would not. And Zia might not be the key player anyway. Him not asking for pardon saved Zia's skin!