BENAZIR Bhutto represented the federation of Pakistan. The assassin(s) cut short her life at a time when people needed her guidance most. She was the voice of the oppressed.

While father Zulfikar Ali Bhutto paved the way for Pakistan to become a nuclear power, the daughter gave missile technology to the country. On the socio - economic front, she expanded the Port Qasim, Steel Mills, gave jobs to the unemployed, lifted ban on students and labour unions and doubled 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. To speak about Ms Bhutto is to speak about a great period of history.

Her worst enemies were the ones who wanted to perpetuate national slavery and backwardness. Dictatorship was anathema to her.

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.”

I pray and hope that the earlier the inquiry into Ms Bhutto's death is held the better it would be for the welfare of this country and its people.

Let us, one and all, contribute our efforts to identifying the perpetrators, organisers and financiers behind this crime and bring them to justice.

I would like to conclude that Benazir Bhutto, a mother, 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 the fresh air of a democratic life.

Humera Alwani

MPA. Thatta

(II)

THE stature of Benazir Bhutto as a political leader is undisputed and her struggle for democracy in Pakistan warrants greater tribute on the eve of her first death anniversary, i.e. either renaming of a state institution after her name or bringing to justice her killers and heralding the triumph of democracy over dictatorship.

Traces of killers of three prime ministers Liaquat Ali Khan, Zulfkar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto point to the same obscurantist forces and as long as the not - so - mysterious killers of political leaders are unearthed and brought to meet justice, the dream of Benazir Bhutto - a dream of democratic Pakistan wherein democratic norms prevail in all state affairs -- could not be realised.

Azhar Ghumro

Islamabad

(III)

IT was in the 80s when I was working in a makeshift medical camp in Karachi's Aligarh Colony hit by communal riots at that time. Benazir was brave enough to come to the colony to show her support and solidarity with the survivors of the colony. It was my first encounter with Ms Bhutto, to see her and hear so close. Her feelings for the victims were very real and she sounded equally involved with those affected by the tragedy.

The second time I met her was at Karachi airport when she was at the international departure lounge and was stopped from leaving the country. I was aghast how come a country's prime minister is without any protocol and security. When I asked Iqbal Haider, the then law minister and close aid to Ms Bhutto, I was told her government is dismissed just a few hours ago.

I saw her talking to someone over the phone (might be a foreign journalist) and she once again sounded confident and unshaken by her dismissal.

Last October the failed suicide attack on her in Karachi on her return from long exile once again proved that she cared for the country more than her life. She proved wrong once again all those who were betting she would immediately return to Dubai. She was all for democracy for which she gave her life.

She symbolised the federation and unity of Pakistan. Had she been alive today, situation in the region could have been much calmer and different. It will be decades before the world sees a leader of her charisma and calibre.

MUHAMMED MANSOOR KHAWAJA

Amman, Jordan

(IV)

I HAD warned Benazir Bhutto and expressed my concern about her safety as early as Dec 23, 1988.

However, it seemed she was well aware of threats to her life but preferred to lead the nation over her personal safety. She was desperate to salvage the nation from the crisis and work for the people's welfare.

When she was alive, many of us thought our country could survive without her. But after her death there emerged a consensus that she was a symbol of unity. Even President Zardari is using the vision and thoughts of Ms Bhutto to achieve unity.

While going through my old letters, written on public matters, I came across the following letter (Dec 23, 1988) which I reproduce for the benefit of your readers

“I hope this letter will find you (Benazir Bhutto) in good spirit, perfect health and full of vigour and energy to lead our nation at this critical period ... . First, allow me to say that I have not liked your attendance and address to open kutcheries in which people crowd you to present their grievances. ....... . Such activities, besides being premature, posed a serious threat to your personal safety.

“Our country, as you know, is full of fanatic - minded people and we have seen murders of Prime Minister Liaquat Ali Khan and a Polish Deputy Foreign Minister at Karachi Airport at the hands of fanatics, in the past.

“Already some opportunist maulvis have started a propaganda against a woman becoming prime minister. For the time being kindly avoid such type of public exposure. While you have innumerable supporters, admirers and well - wishers, there certainly are some persons who are not your friends. You have to beware of them. I hope you will take my advice in that very spirit in which it is being given to you.

“ .......... . I consider it my responsibility to give you some useful advice.

“You may entrust the job of conducting open kutcheries to your colleagues, ministers and party leaders. Later when applications have been received, you may go through them to take necessary action. Rather it is essential that you personally see each and every letter addressed to you as the late Mr Bhutto used to do.

“I hope you will give some serious thoughts to my suggestion and if you act upon it, it will be in the greater interest of our country.

“I am also enclosing herewith a copy of my letter, dated 13.2.1977, addressed to your father, which contains my advice to him to remain careful.

“Remember your life does not belong to you but is, in fact, the property of the whole nation because on it depends the destiny of our country.”

Here it will not be out of place to reproduce excerpts from a similar letter of mine to former prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto (Feb 13, 1977)

“Kindly allow me to take a few minutes of your precious time to place before you a humble suggestion May I also request you to take all precautions in your moves round the country. As an architect of independent Pakistan and emerging leader of world Muslims and the world, the international Zionists, as well as the US, are against you. They will do their utmost to defeat you in the election and if they fail, they will even harm you personally.

“God has blessed you with stamina, energy as well as courage. But you should not overexert yourself and avoid too close mingling with the crowds.”

It appeared that December was a significant month in the life of Benazir Bhutto. I wrote a letter to her on Dec 23, 1988. She was martyred on Dec 27, 2007. She received the highest UN award for human rights posthumously on Dec 10.

K. MURAD BEY

Karachi