Benazir: service to the nation
WE pay rich tribute to Benazir Bhutto, the twice-elected prime minister and chairperson of the PPP whose 59th birth anniversary is being observed in the country today.
She had dedicated her life to the service of the nation and never bowed before any anti-democratic power.
Here is a quote from her last speech: “I put my life in danger and came here because I feel this country is in danger. I want to see a prosperous, progressive and developed Pakistan.”
These words of Ms Bhutto reflect her vision and dream of Pakistan, Although she is no more among us, her vision is alive.
History will always remember her for standing up against dictators. She was the voice of the downtrodden.
Among her many achievements for Pakistan are the missile technology for the country. Agosta submarine for the Navy, women banks and women police stations.
Also, the women affairs ministry was formed during her first tenure in 1988. She appointed women judges, as well as thousands of Lady Health Visitors to minimise infant mortality, started campaign to make the country polio – free.
She expanded the Port Qasim, Steel Mills and launched the Keti Bunder Project, gave jobs to many unemployed youths, lifted ban on student and labour organisations and doubled the wages and salaries of the employees, made land reforms and provided lands to the landless, gave freedom to the media and raised allocations for education, health, etc.
Far from the politics of seeking any revenge, she believed in forgiving and forgetting. Tolerance was the hallmark of her political, moral and religious ethos.
Despite knowing the dangers of Pakistan’s political disaster, she dared to take risk and died on the way as an innocent child, charming, graceful, talented and lovely Pinki. She was larger than life and leaves behind a legacy of resistance, courage and hope. People will remember her as an unmatched woman political leader in Pakistan’s history.
Benazir Bhutto was a mother, a wife, a leader, a daughter, a sister who sacrificed her life for the cause of democracy so that her children and the children of the country and future generations and all of us can breathe in fresh air of democratic life.
HUMERA ALWANI
Sindh MPA, Thatta
This is utter nonsense. Benazir came back to Pakistan under a power-sharing deal with a dictator and was killed while she was busy securing the financial future of her own children in the form of billions of dollars of ill-gotten wealth in foreign bank accounts. She will pay for the damage she inflicted on this impoverished nation.
I wonder if & ever Pakistanis, generally, would wake up to the facts…and won't be the slaves of unmitigated prejudices & loyalties with most corrupt people…just because they are from your land! I am amazed at the audacity of likes of Aitezaz Hassan, Y.R. Gilani, etc., who have no shame is showering praise after praise for the "most corrupt political family" in the world, according to one journalist, am not sure European or American). The 'great' ZAB destroyed our Banking, Education, and Industry by privatizing it decades ago, and we are reaping the 'rewards' by way of being labeled as one of the most corrupt nation, if not the most . People don't see the cronyism, the corruption, the complete breakdown and mismanagement of country's affairs; and the over a billion dollars worth of assets amassed by BB & AAZ, all over the worl…and they still want these kind of human trash to rule them? What a shame; and when will Pakistanis wake up! As the Qura'an says, 'Allah will not help those who do not help themselves'. I think in the present situation, a little ray of hope is Imran Khan – and only Allah knows what is the fate of Pakistan & Pakistanis. May Allah give us all 'Hidayat" and wisdom to seek and find the truth!
A great Family no doubt in the mind of braves. All I can say, I wish army could ever had such a fearless person….
Bhutto is alive and shines like a morning STAR. I salute
Yes lets shower the corrupt witch with praise every year for doing abosolutely nothing for the country.
I wonder where was late Benazir Bhutto during the devastating earthquake of October 2005? Almost 80,000 souls perished in a matter of seconds. That was the time for her to return to her homeland to be with the people she professed to love. Ms. Alwani please spare us, the educated Pakistanis, your lecture on Benazir's love for Pakistan or Pakistanis. Everyone knows Ms. Bhutto returned as a result of deal brokered by the United States and the former dictator Musharraf. In the garb of NRO, all criminal cases were waived as a result of which the country has gone down the drain during the last 4 1/2 years. Have fear of Allah in your heart when you utter such blatant lies or defend corruption of your leader.
What service did Benazir provide to Pakistan, democracy? What democracy she was elected chairperson of PPP for life. We don't even know what democracy means. It definitely doesn't mean control of single families over major parties i.e. Bhutos, Sharifs etc.
Oh & also she provided Roti, Kapra & Makan, just like here great Bhutto son has promised to us the smart Pakistanis.
really expect more objectivity from this paper! She was the biggest disappointment this country has seen besides her father.
"daughter of the poor', 'daughter of the East'…did she ever give up her luxurious lifestyle even while in exile? Was she ever willing to part with her acres of land to give to the masses? No matter how educated she was, she always had a feudal mentality. The party was is always run like a Kingdom where the throne is passed to the heirs.
Benazir Bhutto could have been a great leader of Pakistan if she could control her greedy husband and his criminal minded friends who robbed peoples of their cars and SUVs in Karachi. Most of the stolen valuable cars were then parked / stored at Bilawal house for collecting release money from the owners.
She got not one, but TWO chances to be a PM and yet her second term was even worse than her first. All sentimentalities aside, her premiership was marked by corruption, nepotism of the worst kind. There is nothing that can ever justify that..
Never bowed before any anti democratic power…. as seen by the level of democracy in her very own party
Our salutes to the great lady. May her soul rest in peace and may the nation understand her mission and vision.
I think she was more a party leader than country leader. Can anyone list down the achievements that our country received for her wise vision??? What she gave this country except corrupt president????
She came back for money and power and not for the ppl (under Musharraf deal)
Go and tell all this to her Spouse sitting in the walled compound of presidential palace and is unable to even bring her killers ( even though he told the people many times over and over again and again , that he knew the killers !) to the dock after almost 4.5 long years while yielding every power lever he can has his hands on to move it fast . The drama of scotland yard agents visiting and finding out the killers ! and then the UN Commision to find the killers , had been played out and have lost their effects , OR Does it show if the killers are apprehended and brought to dock , they will expose the face behind the real killing of BB !?! Who killed ZAB , the real things are emerging in bits and pieces now while the instigator himself was burnt alive in his cossy airplane Who was behind the Murtaza Bhutto killings while his sister was the PM , the secrets went with the death of BB , who killed BB , the secret may never be known Only Face dressings is or will be told . Perhaps One day ( a dream only ) AAZ will wake up and have his innerself urge him to tell the people who were the real killer/killers ? Till then only lip service would be paid in the slogans of "democracy is the best revenge and pakistan Khapey Khapey Khapey , for whom Only AAZ can be sure to know ……