DEATH ANNIVERSARY OF SHAHEED ZULFIKAR
ALI BHUTTO
Address
Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto
Prime Minister Islamic Republic of Pakistan
Garhi Khuda Buksh
4 April, 1994
Ladies and gentlemen;
Dear broth, rs and sisters;
Assalam-o-Alaikum !
We have gathered here on the grave of our great
leader Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto to pay our
sincerest respects to him. Today once again we
salute his martyrdom and unparalleled sacrifice.
Today once again we renew our commitment to follow
his teachings and ideals.
4th of April is an extremely important day in our
national political history. It is the day when
tyranny suffered ignominious defeat. It is the day
when truth succeeded and prevailed.
My dear brothers and sisters,
History of mankind is the most important court of
justice. The verdict given by this court can never
be belied. It can never be changed or challenged. On
4th April 1979, history gave its verdict in favor
of Quaid-i-Awam Zulfikar Ali Bhutto declaring him as
oppressed leader of the oppressed people, a truthful
leader and a national hero who even today lives in
our hearts, will continue to live in our hearts and
live for centuries to come.
Dear brothers and sisters,
If in the history of mankind power and authority had
been the decisive factor in controlling the destiny
of nations, then today some Pharaoh would have been
ruling the universe, Namrud and Shad dad would have
been symbols of man's greatness and Yazeed would
have been hero of Islamic history.
Brothers and sisters,
History of mankind has irrefutably confirmed the
fact that Pharaoh, Namrud and Shad dad, despite their
might and power have been declared criminals of
humanity. In the history of Islam the name of Yazeed
is synonymous with curse and abuse. And every Yazeed
will have to face the same decree. Every usurper
will have to accept the same fate.
The tragedy of Karbala is a lesson as well as a
source of inspiration for human beings. In the light
of happenings at Karbala it is confirmed that if one
is on the right and determined to defend the truth,
then tyranny with all its might and power will not
be able to stand against him. Truthful and righteous
persons are never cowed down or daunted by force.
Brothers and sisters,
It is indeed a golden law of nature that tyranny
despite its apparent success is in fact defeated and
the truth though outwardly defeated is in reality
successful.
Dear brothers and sisters,
If despotism were to be the criteria for man's
greatness, then those rulers of old Rome who
crucified Jesus Christ could claim to be saviors of
Christian world, but this did not happen. History
has declared Jesus Christ as savior of humanity.
Brothers and sisters,
If barbarism were to determine the destiny of
humanity, then the rulers of Athens who killed
Aristotle would have been considered as masters of
knowledge and wisdom. If power and authority were to
be the basis for justice, then today in Pakistan,
brutality would have been stronger than Shaheed
Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, people of Pakistan would not
have called him Shaheed Baba, such a huge crowd
would not have gathered in Garhi Khuda Bakhsh at the
grave of their beloved martyred leader and the
entire country would not have echoed with the slogan
of Jiye Bhutto, Jiye Bhutto.
Dear friends,
No one is great because of wealth and authority.
Greatness is bestowed by the will of Allah. And one
who submits to the will of Allah reaches the heights
of greatness.
Dear friends,
Bhutto was martyred fifteen years ago, but his name
is still alive in the hearts of the people of
Pakistan as an undying piece of history. The life of
martyred Chairman has become a historic legend for
the people of Pakistan. What happened to those who
claimed that they will eliminate Bhuttoism? What
happened to those who in 1977 touched Zia-ul-Haq's
feet and said: "Bhutto's name is synonymous with the
poor, we wish to get rid of Bhutto, hang him so that
we the capitalists and industrialists could survive
and the poor are deprived of their only hope for
survival". They said: "kill Bhutto so that he does
not survive". They said: "Do not hold elections
because the poor will win, those who are oppressed,
who are workers, who are laborers, who are tillers,
who are identified as Bhutto, will win the
elections". "Kill him, kill him, kill Bhutto." O,
murderers you have carried out your heinous designs,
you have murdered Bhutto, but look around, Bhutto is
still alive, Bhutto is alive in the hearts of the
poor, Bhutto is alive in every house and every
village of Pakistan. Today a political leader
announced in Frontier Province that they will wipe
out Bhuttoism. Let me remind him that seventeen
years ago in 1977 while sitting in the feet of a
usurper you had claimed that you will completely
uproot Bhuttoism, and today even after the passage
of seventeen years you are repeating the same claim.
Let me tell him that as long as poverty is not wiped
out and as long as tyranny is not abolished
Bhuttoism cannot be uprooted.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Chairman Bhutto was a leader who loved his people,
and graves of great lovers are monuments of love and
affection. The tomb of Shaheed Bhutto has become
political and cultural centre of the people of all
the four provinces of Pakistan. With the exception
of Quaid-i-Azam, there is no other leader in
Pakistan whose mausoleum is visited by hundreds and
thousands of his admirers every year, where there is
endless flow of his lovers and followers, where many
a darvesh and
devotees live and pray, where the enchanting melody
of Mast Qalandar
thrills every one and where
Kalama-i-Mohammadi is recited and
Naarai- i-Hyderi inspires our souls.
Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Shaheed is the
first and the only political leader who for the
first time in our national history gave us a
unanimously approved constitution. It will be
remembered for ever that the creator of our
Constitution and a democratically elected Prime
Minister was hanged by a dictator who usurped power
by violating the Constitution. And is it not a
matter of great pride for the people of Pakistan
that all the rulers of Islamic countries, elected
Prime Minister of Pakistan as Chairman of the
Islamic World?
Ladies and gentlemen,
Is it not a unique and great privilege for Bhutto
Shaheed that he brought together all the kings and
rulers of Islamic Ummah at one platform ?
Ladies and gentlemen,
Chairman Bhutto was the only leader in the history
of Pakistan who introduced the perception of
peaceful nuclear programme and took important
practical steps to translate this ideal into
reality. Today some people criticize Bhutto Shaheed.
Today some people who are our enemy, who are
people's enemy, who are enemies of oppressed people,
criticize the construction of Bhutto Shaheed's
Mazar, they criticize the expenditure of Rs.
28 crore on this account. May I ask them as to why
has he (the 'Pahalwan') spent Rs. 100 crore on the
purchase of a helicopter for personal comfort? We
have not spent rupees one hundred crore for our
personal convenience. But today if the nation wishes
to construct Shaheed Bhutto's mausoleum, why should
any one object to it. It is a befitting tribute to a
leader whom we salute for giving us peaceful nuclear
programme, otherwise we would have been a weak and
easy prey for our enemies. If today we are strong
enough to face enemy it is not, oh Pahalwan, because
of Pahalwans but because of that person who bowed
before Allah and said " O my Allah; I will not bow
my head before any one else except You. My head is
my nation's head, my head is poor people's head.
This head is not meant to bow before others. It is
destined to be cut for the glory of Islam, for the
sake of Pakistan and in the service of poor."
It was Chairman Bhutto who decided to construct
Steel Mills, a lasting gift for the nation. It was
Chairman Bhutto who conceived the Heavy Mechanical
Complex project. It was Chairman Bhutto who
initiated PAF Kamra's plan and last but not the
least it was Chairman Bhutto who planned Indus
Highway and Chashma Barrage projects.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Chairman Bhutto was Iqbal's man of unlimited
qualities and courage who used to think of
conquering the highest. Shaheed Baba, we salute your
thoughts and actions. You told us that faithful
never deviate from the path of truth, because this
is the course of justice and fair play; service of
the people should be the main objective of the
Government; Muslims never submit before tyranny; and
that we do not accept injustice.
People of Pakistan do not want the past history to
be repeated. People of Pakistan do not wish to see
darkness prevailing upon light. People of Pakistan
do not want tyranny to replace justice. It was after
seventeen years of dictatorial rule, fifteen years
of (Bhutto's) martyrdom, followed by installation of
party less Assembly and rigged Assembly, that our
people were able to participate in fair and free
elections, enjoy political stability and look
towards a bright future. It is not an easy task to
reconstruct a dilapidated house or a shattered life.
It requires patience and perseverance. And as we
know patience is always fruitful. We have made a
firm commitment. of completely eliminating
un-employment, corruption, drug menace, profiteering
and Kalashinkov culture from our society. Those
responsible for all these ills are aware of their
fate. They are using their black money in stock
piling flour and sugar. They are engaged in looking
for opportunities of blackmarketing. They are
exposing themselves by using abusive language and
conspiring to regain power so that they could
re-establish the rule of loot and plunder. But those
days are gone, and gone for ever. The era of true
democracy has dawned. People's rule has been
established. Let it be clear that now no one will be
able to undo it.
My dear brothers and sisters,
I am your sister. You have made me Prime Minister of
Pakistan. You have reposed confidence in me. We
shall prove worthy of your confidence. We are waging
struggle against tyranny. We are waging struggle for
eliminating poverty. Our voice is workers' voice,
our voice is the voice of youth. We want every
Pakistani to live respectably. Every child should
receive education. Every patient should get medical
care. Every one should have a house to live in. No
one should go without food. Every daughter of
Pakistan should enjoy full protection. Every mother
and sister should feel safe and secure. We shall
achieve all these targets within our present tenure.
What our opponents could not do during their
seventeen years rule, will be completed by us in
four to five years time.
My dear brothers and countrymen,
This government has not come into power through
rigging. Your government is a democratic,
constitutional and people's government. Those who
talk of removing this constitutional, and democratic
government are' offenders of constitution, law and
democracy. Our people who are poor and needy wish to
have peace and tranquility so that they could earn
their livelihood without any problem. They do not
approve of confrontation and rioting. They do not
approve of those politicians who want to play with
the lives of poor people for achieving their
personal political ends. They are engaged in all
sorts of anti- people activities. Sometime there is
call for strike, sometime public bus is set on fire
and sometime there is a bomb blast. Why do they want
to observe strike? Why do they burn public transport
and why do they force shopkeepers to pull down their
shutters? We have a functioning democracy and an
elected government in the country. What do they wish
to achieve through politics of bomb blasts and
destruction? It is being done to have fresh
elections? It is only five months ago that we had
free and fair polls. Then what is the motive behind
these subversive activities? I firmly believe that
all their undemocratic acts like bomb- blasts,
destroying public transport and forcing people to
observe strike are motivated by their lust for
power. If they are dreaming of fresh elections then
let them not forget that they were defeated in the
last elections, they had rigged 1990 elections and
had suffered crushing defeat in 1988. They are
destined to meet the same fate whenever elections
are held. They can never win, they are bound to be
humiliated. You have failed to achieve anything
during your seventeen years rule. People of Pakistan
are not blind, they are not naive. They have seen
your performance during the seventeen years of your
regime. If you claim to have done anything for the
good of the country, better place it before the
people. But if you have failed to serve the common
man, and then stop indulging in politics of
confrontation. Pakistan is a great country. Poverty
is not our destiny. By the Grace of Allah and with
the help and prayers of my brothers and sisters, my
government will make Pakistan a developed and
prosperous country.
My dear brothers, sisters and elders,
We are gathering here for the last fifteen years.
Our friends reach here from the mountains of Khyber,
deserts of Balochistan, banks of Ravi and Sindh.
People of all the four provinces come to Garhi Khuda
Bakhsh to pay homage to their martyred leader who
sacrificed his life for the sake of the nation. This
place has become symbol of Federal politics. You
have been coming here with me every year. At times
we had to face police barricades and were arrested.
Nevertheless whether in power or out of power,
irrespective of good or bad weather, the followers
of Shaheed Bhutto have been reaching here to renew
their commitment and pledge that "O our dear leader,
you sacrificed your life for our sake. Your mission
is alive, it will remain alive for centuries because
you had stood up for the cause of humanity."
My dear friends, you are successors of Shaheed
Bhutto, you are his sons and daughters, I am your
sister, we are all alike. I am Prime Minister with
the active support of the workers and followers of
Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. If I am the first
elected woman Prime Minister of Islamic World and if
in the history of Pakistan I am the first Prime
Minister to have assumed this position for the
second time, it is neither due to unlimited
financial resources nor because of any "atom bomb",
it is only due to the sincere efforts and prayers of
my poor workers. Their help, co-operation and good
wishes arc the main source of my success and
strength.
Thank you.
Pakistan Paindabad.
