THOSE who are born are bound to die one day. That is how Allah Almighty has programmed human life. But what people leave behind them in terms of legacy is important.

History’s verdict on leaders and their doings is the most objective assessment as it purges all estimates of their actions of biases andprejudices by sifting facts from fiction and put the record straight.

Dec 27 marked the first death anniversary of slain PPP leader and former prime minister Benazir Bhutto. Given the importance of the day, it is necessary to analyse what Ms Bhutto stood for.

What are the factors which have made her the heartbeat of millions of people across Pakistan and abroad?

The life of Benazir Bhutto is a symbol of resistance against dictatorship and tyrannical rule.

She joined politics at a time when a military dictator was entrenched in power and her father, former prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, was all set to go to the gallows via manipulation of the judicial processes.

From then onwards, she led a relentless struggle against dictatorship and for revival of democracy. Hundreds of workers of the party were beaten publicly and detained illegally but these coercive actions of the regime only served to strengthen the resolve of the workers under the dynamic leadership of Ms Bhutto.

She was a symbol of national integration and democracy and the best tribute which the nation can pay to her is her allegiance to the principles she espoused vigorously in her life and the values she promoted consistently in her career.

She combined in her personality qualities of head and heart, but what appealed most to the people were her genuineness and her boldness.

Her political acumen, vision and will were put to the severest test but she always came out with flying colours.

Benazir Bhutto made the supreme sacrifice for restoration of democracy and peace to the country, independence of judiciary, sovereignty of parliament, human rights and economic well-being of the common man. She was an ardent advocate of the rights of the masses and champion of democracy.

Throughout her life, she valiantly campaigned against injustices, oppression and prejudices. She faced great difficulties and tragedies, yet she never wavered from her chosen path and continued her struggle to oust arbitrary rulers and thwart nefarious designs of the retrogressive and obscurantist forces till her last breath.

The conspirators and forces of darkness succeeded to extinguish the beacon of light right in the middle of her people when she came out after addressing a large public gathering in Rawalpindi.

However, these oppressors failed to thwart her mission and now the nation is custodian of her mission. Her supreme sacrifice like her father’s has further strengthened public belief in democracy.

RAJA MASROOR HASSAN QAZI Larkana