Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto was a visionary politician, barrister and reformer. He played his role as the fourth President and ninth Prime Minister of Pakistan.
Biography
Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto was born to a wealthy feudal family on January 5, 1928, near Larkana, British India. , Shah Nawaz Bhutto’s father was also a political leader and landlord.
He was sentenced to death on April 4, 1979, and accused of committing murder. His death and allegations had been a debate and controversy in academic and political circles as Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto claimed his innocence in his last words.
Family Background
He belonged to an influential and wealthy Sindhi family. His family had a tremendous political background. History shows their involvement in politics and public service. He had three brothers, Sikandar Ali Bhutto, Imdad Ali Bhutto and Mumtaz Ali Bhutto and one sister, Saira Bano.
He married Nusrat Bhutto on September 8, 1951. She supported him in his political career. They had four children: Benazir Bhutto, Murtaza Bhutto, Shahnawaz Bhutto and Sanam Bhutto. Benazir Bhutto was fully involved in politics, and she became the first female Prime Minister of Pakistan.
Education
Bhutto started his schooling at Sindh Muslim High School in Karachi. Then, he attended Cathedral and John Conon School, Bombay. He attended the University of Southern California, US, for higher studies. He became an expert in economics and political sciences and earned a graduate degree in 1950, followed by a degree in LLM. Then, he did a Master’s in political science in 1952 and returned to Pakistan. His education played a significant role in his political career and the shaping of his ideology.
PPP
During Ayyub Khan’s era, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto was dissatisfied with the military policies. He founded his political party in Lahore on November 30, 196730, 1967. It was a political and socialist party aiming at and concerning the rights of ordinary people. Its slogan, “Bread, Clothing and Shelter”, showed the concern for providing basics to the public. The mission was to introduce social justice, equality and accessibility of rights to everyone, eliminating discrimination.
In the 1970 elections, the People’s Party secured a good position in West Pakistan. After the separation of Bangladesh from Pakistan, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto became the President and first-ever civil chief martial law administrator on December 20, 1971, and became the ninth Prime Minister in 1973.
Political Journey
After completing his education, he returned to Pakistan and entered the world of politics. He contributed to serve for the government of Khawaja Nizam Uddin. He served in many government positions; in 1958, he became the youngest cabinet minister. He was appointed Minister of Water, power, communication and Industry in 1960 and became a foreign minister in 1963.
In 1966, disappointed with the policies, he resigned and vehemently opposed Ayub Khan’s regime. His resignation was a turning point in his journey. He founded his political party, the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), in 1967 and became President in 1971. On August 14, 1973, he became the prime minister and introduced many structural, developmental, and constitutional reforms.
Bhutto’s government declined when General Zia-ul-Haq imposed Martial Law in 1997, arresting Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and putting charges against him. His political journey consisted of rises and falls.
Initiatives and Projects
He emphasized the nationalization of key industries 1972 to stabilize the economy and provide social equity. He established the Pakistan Steel Mill in 1973 to boost steel production in Pakistan. He initiated land reforms in 1972, redistributing the land from large landowners to poor and landless peasants as he believed in equity. He applied limits on the ownership of land. He nationalized all the banks in 1974. Bhutto introduced Islamic Socialism. He contributed a significant part to the formation of the Constitution of 1973. Bhutto introduced labour reforms by adjusting timings and wages in favour of labourers. In 1969, he highlighted in his book “The Myth of Independence” that Pakistan should become a nuclear power. He focused on launching many developmental projects and initiatives, mainly infrastructure. His government emphasized improvements in the fields of health and education. He established Quaid-e-Azam University and Allama Iqbal Open University in Islamabad.
Allegations and Death
There were allegations against him, including human rights abuses and corruption. He was removed from office in 1977 and condemned for rigging the elections. General Muhammad Zial-ul-Haq arrested him. The court charged him with the murder of a political rival, Nawaz Muhammad Ahmad Khan. He tried to justify his stance; however, the court sentenced him to death on April 4, 1979.
Conclusion
Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto was a great reformer, strategist, and communicator. Both achievements and controversies marked his era as he played influential roles in shaping the structure of Pakistan. Though the court charged Bhutto with death punishment, the people of Pakistan will remember his achievements and contribution to Pakistan.