Pakistan Historian

OUR UNIQUE PAKISTANI IDENTITY: HE WORE THE COMMON MANS CLOTHES:

ZAB was the first politician who wore the common man’s clothes. Once when he was threatened with an assassination, he threw away the podium, tore open his shirt and asked his people to defend him from the assassins bullet. It gave all of a sense of identity. No one dared to sheet him on his chest. They “stabbed” him from the back in the middle of the night. Who did it? Lady Macbeth says “the Raven himself is hoarse that becons the entrance”. Macbeth answers “he is here in double trust, first as him kinsmen and then his subject…who should again the murderer shut the door, not bear the knife himself“

ZULFIQAR ALI BHUTTO TALKED ABOUT JUNAGARH AND MANVADAR AND KASHMIR

Your great grandfather was the Prime Minsiter of Junagarh and convinced the Raja to join Pakistan. An article of accession with Junagarh and Manvadar were signed to Pakistan, similar to the one forged on Kashmir by India. Only the one with Manvadar and Juangarh were real. Pakistani maps showed Junagarh and Manvadar as Paksitani territory. Don’t forget those states of Pakistan.

ZAB held an informal referendum in Occupied Kashmir. He asked the Kashmiris to go on strike to show support for Pakistan. They did! Nothing moved in Occupied Kashmir. It showed the world that the Kashmir issue was alive. It gave them hope!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5eYP_V8tkg

…he formed the OIC…and it gave us all hope.

He inspired an entire nation. His speech at the UN was not about despair. He was indignant, and angry, he repudiated the powerful and then symbolically walked out of the impotent UN because the conspiring powers supported the aggression of India.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdp0gNfodkc

…while Bhutto was making an impassioned speech about reversing the army out of Dhaka and not awarding aggression….he asked one of the ambassadors who was smiling…

“the ambassador is smiling…what is so great about him…his hands are covered in blood”

“so what if Dhaka falls…so what if East Pakistan falls…we will build a new Pakistan, a bigger and better Pakistan”…..

Even in defeat Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto was defiant! He inspired a generation.

He talked about “picking the pieces.”

…even after 1971 he tried to get the new leader of Bangladesh Khondkar Mushtaque to form a confederation with Pakistan and for the briefest moment Mr. Mushtaqueannounced a confederation with Pakistan. Unfortunately Khondkar was overthrown and Bangladesh remained Bangladesh. Of course the powers did not want such a powerful nation.

INTERNAL RECONCILIATION. HOW ABOUT REACHING OUT TO THE OTHER ESTRANGED BHUTTOS.

Charity begins at home! Reach out to Fatima Bhutto and Zulfiqar Ali Nhutto Jr. Include them into the legacy of your grandfather. Fatima is a brilliant activist like Sanam. Hold a judicial inquiry into the death of her father and your uncle and publish the Hamood ur Rehman Commission Report.

DO NOT PLAY GOD OR “Le ETAT, CEST MOI” and DO NOT USE THE WORD “disintegration” or Simla, or December 16th.

The Pakistani nation is not looking for a “God” or figure to save them. No one person can do that. Do not bring bad memories to mind. Do not celebrate anything on December 16th. Using the word “disintegration” catches up with the psyche of the nation. Pakistanis hate he word Simla. Don’t mention it. Pakistanis freeze up and get disgusted when Simla is mentioned. Then they get angry. Pledge “Never Again” with them and sing “Jeeway Pakistan.”

GOVERNMENT OF NATIONAL UNITY IS THE NEED OF THE DAY: On building a consensus in Pakistan. Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto was able to bring together diverse groups like the NAP, JI, JUI, PML and others and got consensus for the 1973 Constitution. This is a learned skill and you can do it. Reach out to the MQM and the PML:

“We badly need to gather our thoughts and clear our minds. We need a political ceasefire without conceding ideological territory. We need a ceasefire to bury dead thoughts and to overcome fatigue. The modus vivendi has to be honourable and above board. Both sides have lost or, should I say, neither side can win. During the ceasefire a combination of existing forces might create a new order or a new equation between existing forces”

Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto A letter from the Death Cell (2007)] p. 15 p. 28

Read world history and our own history to figure things out. Zulfiqar read Nehru’s Glimpses of World History. I did too. It is a good book for 13 year olds. This is what ZAB says.

“in Western estimation it is preferable to be a communist leader of a communist state, than to be a non-communist leader of a non-communist state having friendly relations with communist states. The anomaly does not cease here. It is even more dangerous to be pro-West. One disagreement in defence of a national cause, and out goes that civilian leader by a coup d’etat. He gets replaced by a tin-pot military dictator who would not dare to disagree about anything, including the vital national interests of his country” Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto A letter from the Death Cell (2007)p. 69

A military junta is the herald of communism. The failure to realize this axiomatic fact is the cause of the confusion in Africa, Asia and Latin America. Military rule turns the people totally and irrevocably against the bemedalled generals and their patrons. Where else can the people turn? If freedom, democracy and the rights of man are to be put on the counter to see whether copper and coffee is to cost ten cents more or ten cents less and bargained away with so little consideration, then freedom is a very cheap commodity and the rights of man are not worth a nickel. Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto A letter from the Death Cell (2007)p. 68

Speaking to the West in Christian terms. Grandfather Bhutto does this eloquently.

“For Christians, the teaching and directives of Christ are more Sacred than those of a Messenger of God. According to the Christians, those teaching and directives are of God Himself. Most of the problems of the Third World would be solved if the Christian West implemented in letter and spirit only one directive of Jesus Christ.

The directive to “Render unto Caesar that which belongs to Caesar and to God that which belongs to God”.

The Third World only want what belongs to it and nothing more. For over two hundred years, the Christian civilization of the West has been mercilessly violating this directive of Jesus Christ. The West has been taking everything belonging to Ceasar and everything belonging to God. The West is not dividing the share equitably. It is not rendering to us what belongs to us. This division relates to the economic, social, racial and political rights of the Third World.” Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto A letter from the Death Cell (2007) p. 72

Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto wanted to read Hitler to fight evil and learn from history. This is imperative.

“how Hitler was able to control his generals and I was not.“

Bhutto detained at the Sihala Rest House by the army in 1977, asked for some of his books on Hitler to be brought to him so that he could figure out how to control his Generals.

LEARN ABOUT THE GREAT GAME:-ONE WHO CAN DISCERN CURZON CAN KUMTUX OUR GEO-POLITICAL IMPORTANCE:Here is a lot of advice from Zuilfiqar Ali Bhutto in his book “Myth of Independence:

“Pakistan was once called the most allied ally of the United States. We are now the most non-allied.“Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto (As quoted in The New York Times(6 July 1973)

Learn from the mistakes of the PPP. Benazir Bhutto forgot this:

“If the people wanted my head I would bow without demur. If I had lost the confidence or respect of the people I would not want to live. The tragedy of the drama is that the very opposite is true.” (Letter to his attorney, Yahya Bakhtiar, after his death sentence, as quoted in My Dearest Daughter : A letter from the Death Cell (2007)]

YOU ARE NOT A SINDHI, PUNJABI, BALUCH, KASHMIRI, PATHAN or MUHAJIR: YOU ARE A BHUTTO and A NATIONAL PAKISTANI LEADER: Always remember that. Don’t demean yourself as a provincial leader. You are a national and international leader. Only you can stop yourself. Talk to your fathers friends in foreign lands. Some are still alive. On bringing the diverse society of Pakistan together as well as melting the tin ear of the American war machine. We need to have an anti-clash of civilization and Bilawal is the right person to do this.

OVERHWLEM THEM WITH SUPERIOR STRATEGY: DON’T BRING CHECKER PLAYERS TO A CHESS GAME: Ali Bhutto was well read and know more about the West than Americans and Britishers. He also knew the history of Pakistan and the Subcontinent. His declassified discussion with Kissinger are food for thought. He could characterize Pakistan’s issues in American terms. Unfortunately time did not allow him to write “Glimpses of Pakistani history” that he wanted to.

I could have written a small book entitled “Glimpses of Pakistan’s history”. Time does not permit it. The nation is gripped in her worst crisis, standing in the middle of the road between survival and disintegration. Since the birth of Pakistan, crisis has followed crisis in rapid escalation. Millions of lives were sacrificed to create this country. Pakistan is said to be the dream of Mohammad Iqbal and the creation of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the Quaid-e-Azam. Was anything wrong with the dream or with the one who made the dream come true? Opinions have differed and continue to differ. The next few years will most probably decide the issue, perhaps once and for all, and not without bloodshed. This process is not inevitable but the present policies of the ruling junta are driving this country towards a sad ….Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto A letter from the Death Cell (2007)] p. 15 p. 37

BUILD PAKISTAN ON THE DYNAMIC CHINESE MODEL NOT THE PENURY STRICKEN, CASTE INFESTED, INDIAN MODEL: ZAB knew this. Mao Ze Dung and Chou En Lai (old spellings) were the heroes of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and of most Pakistanis. Today’s China is fast becoming a super power. Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto played a role in that transformation, as acknowledged by Chinese leaders of this generation. He was the one that recognized China. At the time, the only other country that recognized China was Albania. Pakistan opened up China to the US and the world which has led to unprecedented growth in China. Pakistan should use that as a model and not the inefficient stricken Indian model which is a basket case.

Tin-pot dictators have ravaged Asia, Latin America and Africa. In the aftermath, they have done more to promote communism than the works of Marx and Engels, Lenin and Mao. They are the worst tyrants of the post-colonial period. They have destroyed time-honoured institutions and treated their people like animals. They have caused internal divisions and external confusion. The dictator is the one animal who needs to be caged. He betrays his profession and his constitution. He betrays the people and destroys human values. He destroys culture. He binds the youth. He makes the structure collapse. He rules by fluke and freak. He is the scourge and the ogre. He is a leper. Anyone who touches him also becomes a leper. He is the upstart who is devoid of ideals and ideology. Not a single one of them has made a moment’s contribution to history. Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto A letter from the Death Cell (2007)p. 63

“I am guiding you to seek truth from the facts of the historical conditions of our society and to identify the problems. The correct solutions will come with the correct identification of the problems. “

ZULFIQAR ALI BHUTTO ON PEACE WITH INDIA

Appeasement does not mean peace. The Treaty of Versailles did not bring peace. The surrender of Khalistan did not bring peace to Pakistan. If India wants peace, she has to make painful concessions. She has to liberate Kashmir, and return Siachin to Pakistan and stop teaching hatred and “Akhand Bharat” nonsense in her schools. The bigotry and hatred taught in Indian schools reflects back on the abuse of Muslims in India itself. Peace with India can only be achieved if the wrongs of 1947 are fixed. Beginning with Kashmir, Junagarh, Manvadar, India has to realize that that land for peace is the only way to make India more powerful. Haggling with Pakistan, exporting terror to Sri Lanka, browbeating Bangladesh, eating up Sikkim, intimidating Bhutan, and creating trouble in Nepal will never get India peace. India has to stop building dams on Pakistani rivers and stop building the Aqua bomb for the coming water wars.

Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto on Outright pragmatist approach

“Earlier, I have cautioned you against an outright pragmatist approach. Now I am cautioning you against an outright populist approach. Sometimes a populist decision is, in the long run, not beneficial to the masses. Neither pragmatism nor populism are fundamental political and socio-economic doctrines. Nor do I say that you should play it by ear. I have made this melancholy analysis in anguish. My jail surroundings have not influenced my objectivity. I do not want to see the whole world in a death-cell merely because I am in a death cell. I do not say that the High Court has pronounced a death sentence on the world because a law court has pronounced a perverse death sentence on me. I would be the happiest man if the gloomy winter of mankind were to give way to a shaft of sunlight and to coloured flowers. The world is very beautiful. “A thing of beauty is a joy forever”. There is the beauty of the landscape, of the tall mountain, the green plains, the humped deserts. There is the beauty of the flowers and the forests, of the azure oceans and the meandering rivers. There is the splendour of architecture, the magnificence of music, and the sparkle of the dance. Above all, there is the beauty of man and woman, the most perfect creations of God. ” (A letter from the Death Cell (2007)p. 78

Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto on poetry and his partiality towards Shelly

I am partial to the pantheism of Shelley. There is beauty everywhere. Even in a total war of annihilation it will not be possible to wipe out all of it. Beauty is too beautiful to perish altogether. In this period of twelve months in solitary confinement I have rarely recalled an unpleasant or ugly glimpse of the past. A letter from the Death Cell (2007) p. 78 – 79

Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, and Quaid e Awam said: His most passionate love affair was with the people

Life is a love affair. There is a romance with every beauty of nature. I have no hesitation in saving that my most passionate love affair, my most thrilling romance has been with the people. There is an indissoluble marriage between politics and the people. That is why “Man is a political animal” and the state a political theatre. I have been on this stage of the masters for over twenty tumultuous years. I believe I still have a role to play. I believe the people still want me on this stage, but if I have to bow out, I give you the gift of my feelings. You will fight the fight better than me. Your speeches will be more eloquent than my speeches. Your commitment equally total. There will be more youth and vitality in your struggle. Your deeds ill be more daring. I transmit to you the blessing to the most blessed mission. This is the only present I can give you on your birthdays. A letter from the Death Cell (2007) p. 79

Noticias de Rupia | Nouvelles de Roupie | Rupiennachrichten | новости рупии | 卢比新闻 | Roepienieuws | Rupi Nyheter | ルピーニュース | Notizie di Rupia | PAKISTAN LEDGER | پاکستاني کھاتا | RUPEE NEWS | February 16th, 2009 | Moin Ansari | معین آنصآرّی | اخبار روپیہ |

Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto as a humble servant of God

It would be bad politics to try and summarize a situation which is dynamic. Have faith in mankind and its mission. God the Creator is the God of all mankind. God is omnipotent yet. The Creator of this World and the World after this one has imposed on Himself the obligation to be kind and forgiving. No tin-pot dictator of a palm-tree society is capable of imposing any such obligations on himself. On the contrary, he vainly boasts that he is answerable and accountable to nobody. A letter from the Death Cell (2007) pp 79 – 80

Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto on the world

Africa will rid herself of the maniacs. Africa will live to show that “Black is beautiful”. Africa is ancient but Asia is ageless. Her nimble and graceful beauty has adorned civilization from the birth of mankind. Latin America has become the castanet of an international culture that links Andalusia to Arabia and the Caribbean. What beauty there is in the tap of her flamenco! Europe is glamorous and adorable, so seductive that she is still beautiful after a number of face lifts. America has been watergated. In that flow of stagnant waters you can behold beauty in its reflection. A letter from the Death Cell (2007) p. 80

Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto diffrentiates ideology from religion

Religion is a link between God and man and man and man. Political ideology is a link between man and man. For this reason the great religions of the world like Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity and Islam, the last of all religions, have outlived and outlasted political ideologies. If an unlearned adventurer in his quest for political power and perpetuation brings religion down from its celestial plane to a mundane level by converting it into a narrow political ideology, the adventurer endangers the link between God and man and man and man. A letter from the Death Cell (2007)

Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto in pain in his jail cell

What I write is full of infirmities. I have been in solitary confinement for twelve months and in a death cell for three months, deprived of all facilities. I have written much of this by resting the paper on my thigh in unbearable heat. I have no reference material or library, I have rarely seen the blue sky. The quotations are from the few books I was permitted to read and from the journals and newspapers you and your mother bring once a week during your visits to my suffocating cell. I am not making excuses for my deficiencies but it is very difficult to rely on a fading memory in such physical and mental conditions. A letter from the Death Cell (2007) p. 80

I am fifty years old and you are exactly half my age. By the time you reach my age, you must accomplish twice as much as I have achieved for the people.

Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto message of the morrow to you

“Your grand-father taught me the politics of pride, your grandmother taught me the politics of poverty. I am beholden to both for the fine synthesis. To you, my darling daughter, I give only one message. It is the message of the morrow, the message of history. Believe only in the people, work only for their emancipation and equality. The paradise of God lies under the feet of your mother. The paradise of politics lies under the feet of the people. “My Dearest Daughter : A letter from the Death Cell(2007)] Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto A letter from the Death Cell (2007) p. 14 “