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Why Z. A.
Bhutto Was Assassinated?
 Ostensibly
it was a murder case, in which Z. A. Bhutto was sentenced to
death, but now it has become evident and many people believe
that it was a judicial murder. Many former judges and legal
experts agree with the proposition that Bhutto was framed in
murder case and then hanged only to remove him from the
political scene.
Two state institutions played pivotal role in
Z. A. Bhutto’s assassination: Pakistan Army and Pakistan
judiciary. Army may not have been involved as an institution,
but general Zia being an army chief cum President did represent
the armed forces of Pakistan. Pakistan judiciary participated in
Z. A. Bhutto’s assassination as an institution since the murder
case was processed first at High Court and then at Supreme Court
level.
Question is why Z. A. Bhutto was assassinated
by these two institutions? What Z. A. Bhutto did to deserve this
all?
We are addressing this question to draw PPP’s
current leadership’s attention to the parallels between the then
and now situations and save them from serious mistake they are
making by ignoring public sentiments on certain issues that
Pakistan faces today.
PPP leadership may not agree, but Pakistan’s
most important issue today is general Musharraf and his cohorts’
trial who committed serious crimes against the constitution, the
state and the people of Pakistan.
Like PPP’s current leadership, Z. A. Bhutto
also misread the call of the time and ignored the importance of
trial of all those who committed serious crimes against the
state and the people of Pakistan from October 1958 to December
1971.
Z. A. Bhutto even ignored the recommendations
of Hamoodur Rehman Commission report. Instead of trying the
criminals as suggested by Hamoodur Rehman Commission, Z. A.
Bhutto pushed the long list of their crimes and Hamoodur Rehman
report under the rug.
Z. A. Bhutto was assassinated by Armed Forces
of Pakistan and Pakistan Judiciary because he did not act on the
recommendations of Hamoodur Rehman Commission report. Had Z. A.
Bhutto acted on the recommendations of Hamoodur Rehman
Commission and tried criminal generals, judges and bureaucrats
today not only he would have been alive, he would have
definitely saved Pakistan from two subsequent martial laws of
general Zia and general Musharraf.
It was Z. A. Bhutto’s blunder to ignore the
recommendations of Hamoodur Rehman Commission report which cost
him his life and Pakistan two subsequent martial laws.
Current PPP leadership is making even bigger
blunder by indemnifying general Musharraf and others who
committed serious crimes against the constitution, the state and
the people of Pakistan from October 12, 1999 till the day
general Musharraf resigned. Z. A. Bhutto at least established
Hamoodur Rehman Commission to investigate criminal generals,
judges and bureaucrats, but current PPP leadership even does not
want to talk about the crimes committed by general Musharraf and
cohorts.
PPP leadership claims it wants reconciliation
in the country. Mr. Zardari and Mr. Gilani say they forgave the
crimes general Musharraf committed against them. Mr. Zardari and
Mr. Gilani may forgive crimes that general Musharraf committed
against them but how can they forgive the crimes general
Musharraf committed against the constitution, the state and the
people of Pakistan?
Current PPP leadership must learn from Z. A.
Bhutto’s mistake. They should not repeat the same mistake. Z. A.
Bhutto paid for the mistake of not trying criminals in uniform
and civil with his life and the nation paid with two subsequent
martial laws.
General Musharraf and his cohorts’ trial will
determine the future of democracy in Pakistan, PPP government,
PPP leadership, people of Pakistan as a nation, and Pakistan as
a country.
If PPP leadership wants to avoid Z. A.
Bhutto’s fate and save Pakistan from future martial laws it must
try General Musharraf and cohorts immediately. Otherwise,
history will repeat as it has repeated many times before for
those who do not learn from it.
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