Islamabad, January 03,
3009: The Federal Minister
for Information and Broadcasting
Ms Sherry Rehman has said
that Shaheed Zulfiqar
Ali Bhutto’s 81st
birth anniversary on Jan
5 is a day for the government
to reiterate its commitment
to people’s empowerment,
a cause advocated by the
Shaheed leader.
“The Pakistani
nation’s deep commitment
to democracy, despite
repeated attempts at crushing
our aspirations is the
result of Shaheed Zulfiqar
Ali Bhutto’s uncompromising
approach to people’s
rule,” said Ms Sherry
Rehman in a message to
the nation on the occasion
of the birth anniversary
of Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali
Bhutto. The PPP Government
has decided to observe
the day with simplicity
owing to the holy month
of Muharram.
The Federal Information
Minister said that the
reason leaders like Shaheed
Bhutto continue to live
in the national memory
is because of the dedication
they commit to their cause.
“For Shaheed Zulfiqar
Ali Bhutto, the empowerment
of the common man was
the supreme agenda that
he pursued till his last
breath. He was the first
political leader of his
times who brought politics
out of the drawing rooms
of the elite class, right
into the streets to the
masses. His political
objective was premised
on the common man’s
right to rule through
a fair representative
system. It is the success
of his ideology that despite
many regime changes after
his demise in 1979, Pakistanis
continue to support a
political and representative
rule.”
Ms Sherry Rehman said
that Shaheed Bhutto took
the arduous task of nation
rebuilding after the 1971
war, turning Pakistan’s
economic, political, military
and civilian systems around.
“He gave Pakistan
a unanimously approved
constitution that continued
to support the cause of
the federation in the
face of successive attempts
at trampling the sacred
document. He laid the
foundation of strong support
structures for the economy.
The Karakoram Highway,
the Port Qasim Authority,
the Kamrah Aeronautical
Complex, the Heavy Mechanical
Complex, and the Pakistan
Steel Mills were all established
by Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali
Bhutto. Till today these
industries act as the
backbone of the country’s
economy. Shaheed Bhutto’s
foreign policy strengthened
Pakitan’s position
in the region while it
was his strong relations
with the gulf countries
that opened avenues of
opportunities for Pakistan’s
labour for decades to
come. Most importantly,
his uncompromising approach
to fundamental rights
paved the way for basic
freedoms including rights
through habeas corpus,
passport to every Pakistani,
land reforms.”
The Federal Information
Minister said that an
important aspect of Shaheed
Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto’s
leadership was that he
combined his charisma
with organisation, programmes
and systematic action.
“Shaheed Bhutto
was a visionary leader
and this was reflected
in his leadership and
governance style. He was
fully committed to the
prosperity and long-term
growth of Pakistan. We,
in Pakistan still reap
the benefits of his economic
policies that empowered
labour and sought to establish
a just order for all sections
of the society enabling
them to contribute to
and benefit from the country’s
economic growth.”
The Federal Information
Minister said that thirty
years after his judicial
murder, Shaheed Zulfiqar
Ali Bhutto continues to
influence the political
spectrum of Pakistan.
“Shaheed Zulfiqar
Ali Bhutto strove for
civilian supremacy over
state structures. He made
no compromises on his
mandate and relentlessly
pursued pro-people policies
despite resentment from
established quarters.
Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir
Bhutto adopted similar
approach for governance.
After the two Shaheed
leaders, the Pakistan
Peoples Party stands committed
to follow their ideals.
Delivering on public welfare
remains the top priority
of our government and
we would stand by our
agenda.”