WE pay rich tribute to Benazir Bhutto, the twice elected prime minister and chairperson of the PPP whose 4th death anniversary is being observed in the country. She had dedicated her life to the service of the nation and never bowed before any anti-democratic power.

As a leader of the downtrodden, she struggled for the rights of the people of all our provinces. Although the assassin(s) cut short her life at a time when people needed her guidance the most, one still feels her presence around.

Her points of view that were heard around the globe on all important forums were considered to be the voice of the oppressed. She eventually proved not only to be a conqueror in politics but a conqueror of the people’s hearts.

Four year back, Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto had arrived home after eight years of exile. On arrival at the Karachi airport, she said: “I feel very, very emotional coming back to my country. I’ve dreamt of this day for so many months and years. I counted the hours. I counted the minutes and the seconds just to see this land, to see the grass, to see the sky.”

She was unfortunately killed by those who wanted to perpetuate national slavery and the backwardness of our people.

Shaheed Benazir Bhutto was unique in her wisdom, vision, commitment and achievement; she struggled for the rights of all the people of all the provinces of Pakistan.

Following in the footsteps of her father Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, Ms Bhutto also sacrificed her life for her countrymen.

She gave missile technology to Pakistan, Agosta submarine to our Navy; she was the creator of women’s banks, women’s police stations. The women’s affairs ministry was formed during her first tenure in 1988; she always encouraged women to participate in politics; she appointed women judges, as well as thousands of lady health visitors to reduce infant mortality; she also had a campaign initiated to make the country polio-free.

On the socio-economic front, Ms Bhutto expanded Port Qasim, Steel Mills and launched the Keti Bunder & Thar Coal projects; gave jobs to a large number of the unemployed; lifted ban on student and labour unions and increased the wages and salaries of the employees; made land reforms and provided lands to the landless; gave freedom to the media; raised for first time in our history allocations for education and health, etc. Her many achievements included a strong foreign-cum-defence policy.

She believed in a life of honour, dignity, equality, prosperity and power for Pakistan. She would often say: “I want to see a prosperous, progressive and developed Pakistan.”

She believed in the politics of reconciliation, in forgiving and forgetting, far from the politics of seeking any revenge.

Tolerance was the hallmark of her political, moral and religious ethos.

History will always remember her as the first Muslim woman leader who stood against the tide of dictatorship. Her name remains engraved on the hearts of the downtrodden of Pakistan.

Here are a few words from her last speech: “I put my life in danger and came here because I feel that my country is in danger.”

The need of the time is to implement the democratic philosophy of ZAB and Benazir Bhutto to solve the existing problems.

Benazir Bhutto is gone but her legacy will continue forever. Today we miss her because she was a great leader, mother and daughter too.

It proves that our leader was murdered pursuant to an international conspiracy against Pakistan and its people.

We, on the eve of her 4th death anniversary I pay rich homage to the late PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto, a mother, who has sacrificed her life for the cause of democracy so that her children and the children of the country and the future generation and all of us can breathe in fresh air of democratic life.

HUMERA ALWANI MPA, Sindh