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KARACHI: A 10-day exhibition of photographs depicting the life and times of former prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto opened at the National Museum on Wednesday. The exhibition has been organized by the Sindh government’s culture department.
The pictures on display represent the different phases of Z. A. Bhutto’s life. While a majority of them are black-&-white, some colour photographs (and a few of his famous, nicely-framed sayings) are equally evocative. Be it the Bhutto family life, ZAB’s foray into politics or the ordeals that he underwent, all phases can be traced through the images on display.
In a shot taken in 1955, Benazir Bhutto and Murtaza Bhutto are seen sitting on their father’s lap. Another picture shows the young Murtaza, Sanam and Benazir immersed in a discussion.
In a 1973 grab, ZAB is boarding a helicopter to reach Gilgit. Another set of pictures shows the premier meeting various world leaders during his foreign visits. One such picture was taken in Algeria in Jan 1972 and Begum Nusrat Bhutto is also seen in the background.
Perhaps the most poignant photograph in the exhibition is the one in which Z.A. Bhutto and his wife are at the Lahore High Court listening to the verdict which would decide the former prime minister’s fate. The close-up of the couple does not even need description.
There is, however, one particular exhibit which is refreshing in its uniqueness and might pleasantly surprise history lovers. In 1964, when Mr Bhutto was Pakistan’s foreign minister, he wrote a letter to a respected literary magazine Nuqoosh, lauding its publishers for their untiring effort in promoting literature and literary values in the country. The marked feature of the exhibit is the prime minister’s very legible Urdu signature.
Peerzada Salman is the Special Correspondent for Arts & Culture for Dawn in Karachi, having been associated with the newspaper since 2003. He writes weekly columns on Karachi’s history and Pakistani showbiz alongside his coverage of cultural events.
