It was late December and I was passing by the main avenue of Lahore's Faisal Town when I saw some flickering lights in the distance. It was the Pakistan Peoples Party's office and the large portraits of late Z.A. Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto were wrapped in the pitch darkness of the night. All the street lights were out as a result of recent power shortages in the country and it seemed that night itself was in mourning. In the foreground were a few people with candles in their hands. It was a candlelight vigil in memory of Benazir Bhutto.
The name of Bhutto is a symbol of martyrdom in Pakistan. Her father, Zufikar Ali Bhutto, was executed in 1979 after a hung decision of the supreme court (four out of nine judges declared him innocent). Then a few years later, his younger son, Shahnawaz Bhutto, was killed on the French Riviera under mysterious circumstances.
When Benazir Bhutto became prime minister of Pakistan, her only remaining brother Murtaza Bhutto was killed in a shoot-out outside his Karachi residence. Government agencies were callous enough to say that she ordered the killing. And then came the final blow to the family and to Pakistan: Benazir Bhutto was assassinated on the evening of December 27, 2007. She was buried alongside her father in Garhi Khuda Bux in the Sindh province amid mass mourning and national unrest. But alas there is no one with the calibre of Benazir to stop the separatist sentiment which was engendered by her assassination. She was the only politician of stature and statesmanship who was capable of holding the federation together. Now, after her, there is chaos and anarchy.
More than fifty people have been killed and railway stations have been burned in the aftermath of this one killing. The Army has been called in Sindh where the separatist sentiment is rising by the day. The political arena of Pakistan will miss Bhutto forever. There is simply no one with her subtle manners, academic achievements, tolerant methods, liberal-democratic outlook, and above all the international recognition as a brave leader from the Muslim world. It's too bad that petty politicians like Fazlur Rehman and Pervez Elahi are all that remains on the political horizon as the election date approaches (first fixed at January 8 then postponed until February 18, 2008); the nation is at a loss to be able to choose from this lot. Gone is the romance of Pakistani politics which was aglow with her name.
Article comments
1 - Ms. Keighley (qing-jao)
Your language is exceptionally eloquent. From reading this, I find enlightenment as to the great value of Benazir Bhutto, that was lost. As truly as she was loved, she is now missed. There is beautiful emotion in your work, and it affects me as I read and gain understanding. Thank you so much for sharing it
-Ms. Keighley
2 - Douglas Mays
The loss of such a great woman and inspiration of the true word of unity and function of humanity....
Time to take action!! How? OK, it would not be considered environmentally cool, but it must be done. we have the military force to step right in and bomb the hell out of those caves in Afghanistan were enemy leaders are hiding. We could get them all.
But nnnoooooo. Creating some stupid, pointless, expensive war in Iraq? Why can't we just test out some weapons on some cave targets and call it a day? Environmentally it is no different than some strip mine somewhere else in the world.
Get it?
peace, dammit!
DM
3 - Anon
Only in a messed up, failing, terror breeding country can a corrupt, conniving politician who really got nothing accomplished in her terms as Prime Minister except to funnel money to her own accounts be considered great and a beacon of hope.
I guess she was the least worst option.
4 - Dr Dreadful
Jeez, Douglas. You're stomping around BC like a bear with a sore head today.
Put your soccer cleats on the wrong feet this morning, did ya?
;-D
5 - Douglas Mays
Dreadful, yeah, I know... I am the mad ranter today. Just got to tap the energy when I have it.
Oh man, speaking of soccer, I still am getting rushes from my town (Seattle) being awarded an MLS team a few months ago. Already near 20,000 season tix have been sold for the first season (2009).
Damn, but this darn planet and society and everything!!!!
6 - Afaq A. Q.
Douglas you are right about the 'war' in Iraq and senseless loss of American lives. About bombing the enemy in the caves is technically not feasible as they are not occupying them. They live in large and small cities, mix with the local population and when allied forces bomb them indiscriminately, women and children get killed; which in turn makes the local population grow more hatred towards Americans. This aspect of the rapidly spreading hatred on the part of masses is being overlooked by the US state machinery but its price is going to be pretty high. Pakistan is already paying more than its fair share through almost daily suicide attacks in the troubled frontier province and elsewhere in the country.
7 - Douglas Mays
Dr. A, thank you for the knowledge of detail. My statement was more or less reactive in a way to genereate a more solid answer. But you understand my reasoning. Get to the point, not a 'symbolic war' to solve a problem of major human impact.
We lost Bhutto in the battle already. If that isn't symbolic of the world crisis, what else do we need to get humanity to see and stop this world destuction?
Yeah, the answer comes down to conscious action us people.
Thank you for your answer.
transcend peace,
DM
8 - Muhammad Moosa Rind
Dear Qureshi,
After Assissination of Martyar democracy Benazir Bhutto "What is best wave to solve/full filled The Sindh & Sindhi Nation there political gap after assissination of Benazir Bhutto They feel like orphan why you not rising this issue in your essays.
Peace,
Muhammad Moosa Rind
9 - Afaq A. Qureshi
Dear Moosa Rind. Thanks for your comment. Its true that Sindhis felt like orphaned when Benazir was assassinated. Remember what Bilawal said in his maidern press coference,"...democracy is the best revenge..." and the Sindhi voter has given a clear majority to the Pakistan peoples party. Its now the responsibility of the present regime to let the mandate of the public prevail and balm the wounds of an orphaned province. And don't forget that loss of Benazir was not just a provincial loss; a whole nation was shocked and mourned her demise. May her soul rest in peace.