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LPP on the first anniversary of Benazir Bhuto's assassination

Farooq Sulehria - December 29, 2008

No wailing can symbolize the tragedy that struck Pakistan last year on December 27. The stage was Liaqat Bagh in northern town of Rawalpindi. At about 14.15, three fire shots were heard. Next, it was an explosion. Yet another Pakistani prime minister had met a violent death. And at 18.15 local time, the world media were reporting Benazir Bhutto's death.

Yet another Bhutto had met a unnatural death. Not far from Liaqat Bagh, her father Ali Bhutto was hanged by the than military dictator General Ziaul Haq. That was back in 1979. On the fateful day of April 4. He had annoyed Washington by adopting an independent foreign policy. Kissinger warned him: 'we will make an example out of you'. A CIA-backed military coup, pretty similar to one Chaves experienced couple of years ago, removed Bhutto and in a sham trial Bhutto was awarded death sentence. At the age of 52, Bhutto bravely faced his execution and became an icon, a saint.

Fond of cats and western music, Benazir eldest of four siblings, replacing her father as Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader decided to lead the democratic struggle against Zia dictatorship. Both her brothers, Murtaza and Shahnawaz, however, decided to take up arms against military regime while Sanam was never interested in politics.

The Bhutto brothers formed Al Zulfiqar Oorganisation (AZO) and established their headquarters at Kabul. The Soviet backed rulers at the helm of affairs in Kabul facilitated Al Zulfiqar. The high jacking of a PIA plane, carrying some US citizens, by Al Zulfiqar activists secured the release of many political prisoners but it made Soviet bureaucrats nervous. Bhutto brothers were asked to leave Kabul. Both moved to France where Shahnawaz, youngest of four, was found dead in his apartment one morning. He was only 27. He had been poisoned.

Benazir, by now living in London as an exile, carrying Shahnawaz coffin, travelled to Pakistan. Her brief return electrified the democracy movement in Pakistan. The dictatorship was forced to hold elections, though political parties were not allowed to participate.

However, it brought limited political liberties. Making use of the space available, Benazir Bhutto decided to end her exile and landed Lahore on 10 April 1986. A million man crowd received her chanting: Benazir, Aaye hej, Inqlab lai hej (Benazir is back with revolution).

Revolution, however, never came even if Benazir twice came to power. During her first stint in power, 1988/90, she at least talked relatively radical. But during her second stint, 1993/97, she gave up anything radical she had. One of the four basic PPP mottos, Socialism is our economy, was now off party agenda. She got herself elected as life time chairperson of PPP as her brother Murtaza was now back in Pakistan and was claiming to be the real successor of Bhutto.

Murtaza's relatively radical demagogy attracted many a disillusioned PPP activists. Murtaza used to publicly criticize Benazir, particularly her husband Asif Zardari, for corruption. Before he could pose any serious challenge, on 20 September 1996, Murtaza was killed in a shoot out with police outside Bhuttos' residence in Karachi. Many accused Zardari for plotting to kill Murtaza. In two months time, Benazir government was dismissed yet again. In next elections, her PPP badly lost. Never, since its formation in 1967, PPP had lost election this big.

Implicated in many corruption charges by the next government headed by her rival Nawaz Sharif, Benazir Bhutto went in exile. When in 1999, Nawaz Sharif was removed by military strongman General Musharraf; Benazir welcomed the military coup hoping that she would be called back.

Military junta, however, had different plans. The events of September 11 provided military rulers with new opportunities. Hence, instead of calling Benazir back, military organized sham elections in 2002, and arranged that Muslim League (Q), a split from Nawaz Sharif's party, emerged as largest party.

This new parliament elected Musharraf as president. Last year, both Musharraf and the parliament were supposed to face new elections.

Enjoying full US support, Musharraf was confident to rule another five years. But in March 2007, things went wrong. He removed the chief justice who was not ready to cooperate in re-electing Musharraf. His removal led to a mass movement since the chief justice was seen as a principled man while Musharraf as a corrupt ruler backed by the USA.

As the masses stretched muscle, Musharraf's unpopularity reached new heights and he was forced to reinstate the chief justice. He was down but not out. Before he had been completely humbled, US decided to send Benazir to help him out. A deal was struck between Musharraf and Benazir under US supervision. Benazir was allowed to return home and corruption charges against her were dropped while Benazir helped Musharraf get re-elected on the condition that he would shed his uniform on re-election.

Once re-elected, Musharraf refused to abide by the deal. Military did not want to share power with Benazir. She was never trusted by a military establishment having cordial relations with al-Qaeda and Taliban.

Military establishment has been, despite apparent support for 'war on terror', patronizing Taliban hoping that US would soon leave Afghanistan and their time tested assets (Taliban) would be needed once more.

One reason US wanted Benazir back was Afghanistan. Musharraf had been, in words, hard on Taliban, but in practice, lending them helping hand.

Hence, he told Benazir not to return from exile. She refused to budge. Consequently, besides half a million PPP supporters, couple of suicide bombers received her on October 18, 2008, in Karachi on her return from exile under media glare. She survived. But for another 69 days merely. The killers had decided not to take any chance hence besides a suicide bomber; snipers were also placed at the gate of Liaqat Bagh: scene of many tragic happenings.

Back in 1953, Pakistan's first prime minister Liaqat Ali Khan was shot dead here by Said Akbar, an Afghan. The murder remains a 'mystery' (feudal politicians got him killed but Afghan assassin was cleverly used to pin blame elsewhere). Said Akbar was killed on the spot by police to avoid any complications in case of investigations.

In 1974, bomb blasts left dozens dead during a public meeting of left-wing National Awami Party (NAP). It was Benazir-s father in power at the time and was blamed by ANP for these bombings. It remains a mystery as to who planted the bombs. Similarly, the last bloody tragedy staged here on December 27 last year, has been made into a 'mystery'.

At first, the doctor Benazir was brought to declared bullet wounds as the cause of her death. Call it a sinister coincidence or what; it was the father of this doctor who received Liaqat Ali Khan when Khan was brought to hospital.

But very next day, the doctor retracted his statement as government pinned blame on Taliban commander Baitullah Mehsud. Meantime, a Taliban spokes person rang an Italian news agency and Asia Times online's correspondent in Pakistan to accept the responsibility.

The West, particularly, seized upon the opportunity to blow 'war on terror' trumpet. Two days later, government came with yet another version. Now it was the lever of sun roof that was blamed for Benazir's death.

However, every new excuse would further enrage the grief stricken Pakistanis, particular people in Bhutto's home province of Sindh. They knew instinctively that military was responsible hence anything that symbolized riches or state was attacked. For four days, Pakistan was burning. Over 700 banks were looted and set on fire, police stations were attacked. Cars were set on fire. Rail lines were dug out. Since elections were due on January 8, pro-military Muslim League (Q) had set up election offices and fly posted posters and banners everywhere. None was left by new year eve.

Most of the Muslim League leaders went in hiding else they would have been lynched.

Baitullah Mehsud, otherwise a cruel and notorious warlord with close links with military intelligence, was quick to deny government accusations. An email by Benazir sent to her campaign manager in the USA had forewarned that Musharraf, not Taliban, would be responsible for her murder. The way crime scene at Liaqat Bagh was washed immediately after the attack, thus wiping off critical evidences conducive for investigation, pointed out to the connivance between killers and the regime. Above all, footage of the murder shown across the globe on TV channels belied the government claims that sun roof lever caused the death.

The PPP demanded a UN probe the way Rafiq Haririri's case was investigated by UN team of investigators. But US did not bless this idea, however, a five member team of British investigators from Scotland Yard arrived to probe. This team also blamed the sun roof lever.

Nobody in Pakistan believed in any such probes. No investigation would have satisfied angered and grieved people who knew the killers instinctively. They were not interested in the identity of the assassins who might be some religious fanatics. When Benazir was attacked in Karachi on her return from exile, she mentioned three people in her letter to government. She kept saying that Zia remnants wanted her dead. Simultaneously, she was the only mainstream leader challenging fundamentalists. What therefore is most likely scenario is: military plotted her murder and assassins belonged to some fanatic religious group.

An Asia Times online report mentioned Lashkar e Jhangvi, a Saudi funded armed outfit notorious for killing Shias in Pakistan. Since Benazir's mother was a Shia, her husband Asif Zardari is a Shia, and many in Pakistan think Bhuttos are Shia. Most probably the killers were motivated to kill Pakistan's most prominent Shia.

That Benazir was a target for beards is beyond doubt. She gave full support to bloody operation against militants at Red Mosque of Islamabad. Immediately after that operation, a PPP rally was attacked leaving over a dozen PPP activists dead. Also, she had clearly said that she would allow US forces to chase al Qaeda inside Pakistan borders if she came to power.

Also, military would not find suicide killers among its ranks. It is only fundamentalists outfits having such zealots in abundance. What, however, is beyond any doubt is the close relationship between military and these outfits. Benazir's tragic murder was most likely an outcome of connivance between khakis and beards.

This most likely assumption, however, is still carefully avoided in commentaries in global media. US and her allies kept pointing finger at al Qaeda. Also, what is never mentioned is the fact that Benazir's shocking murder was in fact a death foretold. And her murder was not the cause of tragedy that befell Pakistan on December 27 but effect. An effect of US presence and policies in the region. The disaster Pakistan met in the death of her most popular leader last year was yet another proof that US presence in a region brings more instability. Her shocking death may have been plotted by military and executed by beards but it was US that pampered them at the cost of democracy, secularism and civil society in Pakistan.

Benazir's assassination was therefore no isolated event. It was rather culmination of militarization and fundamentalisation of Pakistani society with the tacit of support of US imperialism.

Alas! PPP now headed by her husband Asif Zardari, is not ready to challenge either military or imperialism. A call from Condi Rice to Zardari soon after Benazir's death, requesting not to boycott the election (due on January 8 but postponed until February 18) was obediently obliged. Had PPP boycotted elections, Musharraf would have found it impossible to continue in power. It would have frustrated imperialist design too. But PPP is no more a party that was respected and universally supported in Pakistan for its socialism, secularism and anti-imperialism. A cause for which founding father Ali Bhutto gallantly walked to gallows.

The process of feudal domination over PPP had already begun while Ali Bhutto was in power but when Benazir took the reins of PPP, it was purged of leftists and soon it became a club of feudal lords. Still masses, in the absence of any alternative, kept supporting PPP and die hard PPP activists would attribute Benazir's inefficiency during her two terms in power to her husband Asif Zardari. It was perhaps ingratitude to Ali Bhutto, who offered ultimate sacrifice by embracing a death plotted by the USA, to betray Bhutto's daughter. The vote bank Benazir enjoyed was also a tribute to Ali Bhutto.

This, however, remains to be seen if PPP under Zardari will enjoy the same mass support. Already, his ascent to PPP leadership has disgusted many. Known as Mr. Ten Percent (a sobriquet he earned during Benazir government. He would allegedly take ten percent, as bribe, of all financial deals sealed by Benazir government). In her will, Benazir had nominated Asif Zardari as her successor in case of her death.

This will reluctantly made public has become controversial. 'This crook has cooked this will up' is a comment frequently heard here in Pakistan. Cunningly, typical of feudal lords like Zardari, he instead of becoming party chairperson nominated 19-year-old son Bilawal, as Benazir's successor and himself took the designation of co- chairperson. Consequently, got himself elected as President of Pakistan. The President in Pakistan is elected by four provincial and federal parliament. Since PPP and her allies won big in general elections held in February 2008, reaching presidency for PPP candidate was no uphil task.

The PPP, a product of 1968 radicalisation, now is a family feifdom the way Indian National Congress in India has become a Nehru-Gandhi dynastic asset. A bad omen for democracy in Pakistan and, for many, an anti-climax of Benazir's 'sacrifice for democracy'.

When she died at the age of 54, she was a controversial figure. Her followers defended her and blamed her husband, Asif Zardari, for corruption charges. But she was widely, in Pakistan, seen as corrupt, pro-US politician. Her pro-American policy was something even her staunch supporters would find impossible to defend. It was also a negation of Ali Bhutto's legacy.

In West, and perhaps globally, she was seen as westernized and liberal politician. That she had, being woman, twice served as prime minister in a country, of late, seen as hub of Islamism added to her personal charisma. Her posh, aristocratic manners would readily win her many admirers in elitist Western media and society.

Inside Pakistan, the situation was different. While she, no doubt, enjoyed mass support but she was also subjected to severe criticism both from left and right. Media, dominated by right wingers, were never friendly.

Always hand in glove with military, Islamists made her life hell as she ran for prime ministerial slot first time. Funded by military and backed by right-wing media, she was subjected to a dirty character assassination campaign. Islamists would proclaim that a woman could not head a government in a Muslim state. Her pictures from Oxford days, dancing with boys were distributed.

But she remained unnerved and masses rejected all dirty tricks. She won the elections big way. But she was under fire from left too. Liberals, left and secular forces wanted her to go more radical but she would not go beyond a certain limit.

Privatization became an official catch word whenever she was in power. Though she normalized relations with India, a demand secular, liberal, left forces always raise, but she patronized Taliban who over ran Kabul with the tacit support her government initially lent to Mullah Omar's brigades. A fact, carefully avoided in media commentaries these days.

Similarly, it is never mentioned that she was religious as well as extremely superstitious. Since her return from exile on October 18, she would have Imam Zaman tied to her right arm, a totem Shia Muslims wear with the faith that it guards one against iron (bullets, daggers, swords etc). As prime minister, she would visit a shadowy holy man (pir) to be beaten by his holy stick. This holy lashing, she believed, would guard her against evil eye.

Though she was always proud that her vote bank consisted of Pakistan poor yet her lavish life style were always butt of many critical media commentaries.

Still, she had certain qualities. She was, above all, enriched with a tremendous amount of courage. Despite attack in Karachi on October 18, 2008 on her home coming from he second exile, she did not shut herself in some safe castle. She kept criticizing the beards. And she was the only mainstream leader publicly daring challenge armed to teeth Taliban.

She was the only leader, in Pakistan, enjoying support in all the four provinces and globally famous. Her best achievement was, however, her womanly challenge to patriarchy in a male chauvinistic, conservative Muslim society. She challenged both religious and social orthodoxy by entering politics.

Her first baby, Bilawal (now nominated as PPP chairperson) was born three months before she took oath as prime minister first time. She mothered her second child, Bakhtawar, as prime minister while third and last baby, Asifa, was born when she was opposition leader.

She might have betrayed Bhutto's legacy and disillusioned many but her record on women uplift was not bad. During her first stint in power, she launched First Woman Bank, ridiculed by many at the time. However, this bank proved a unique and successful venture. Perhaps, one of its own kind across the globe. This bank is run by women only and now has branches almost all over Pakistan. She also reserved a seven percent job quota for women in all the public sector jobs, including military. When she came to power, second time, she released all the woman languishing in jails under so called Islamic laws.

No matter, how controversial she was during her life time; in her death she has embraced martyrdom. Refereeing to her death as murder is an insult in Pakistan. Even Musharraf and her political rivals would carefully refer to this murder as Shahadat (martyrdom) while she is, with reverence, called Benazir Shaheed (the martyr). In this male dominated society, she is perhaps the first woman referred to as Shaheed. Whether or not she was Benazir (literally meaning matchless) in her life. But she definitely became matchless by courageously embracing a death so violent.

[Farooq Sulehria is a freelance journalist based in Sweden and a member of the executive committee of the Labour Party Pakistan. The acticle below was written for the Swedish weekly Internationalen.]

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