Pakistan posters - What's your perception of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto?

[Hitman]

The man was and still is an extremely polarizing figure in Pakistan.

He played an extremely terrible part in the 1971 liberation of Bangladesh. I've heard quite a few people from Pakistan on youtube blaming him for the separation of East Pakistan. And rightfully so, he made a lot of terrible blunders in that saga. Bluntly speaking, those actions of his were outright selfish on his part. Those of us who know history are well aware of his actions back then.

But what's also true is that he did quite a lot of good for Pakistan after that saga. He is the one who started Pakistan's nuclear program. It's just one of the many good things he did for Pakistan after the 1971 disaster.

More that the opinion of the rest of the world, I'm more interested in the opinion of our Pakistani brothers. How exactly do you guys perceive him? This is a very interesting topic and I'd love to know the opinion of our Pakistani posters on the man.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

Don't know that much about him, but he was a very charismatic figure from what I have read. My mother was a big fan, although that's not saying much, she was a big fan of Princess Diana.

 

[Hermoine Green]

The man was and still is an extremely polarizing figure in Pakistan.

He played an extremely terrible part in the 1971 liberation of Bangladesh. I've heard quite a few people from Pakistan on youtube blaming him for the separation of East Pakistan. And rightfully so, he made a lot of terrible blunders in that saga. Bluntly speaking, those actions of his were outright selfish on his part. Those of us who know history are well aware of his actions back then.

But what's also true is that he did quite a lot of good for Pakistan after that saga. He is the one who started Pakistan's nuclear program. It's just one of the many good things he did for Pakistan after the 1971 disaster.

More that the opinion of the rest of the world, I'm more interested in the opinion of our Pakistani brothers. How exactly do you guys perceive him? This is a very interesting topic and I'd love to know the opinion of our Pakistani posters on the man.

A dead politician (doesnt matter if he is corrupt) in Pakistan becomes a hero. Same is with Mr. Bhutto, Benazir and Mr. Bugti.

 

[Varun]

I ain't Pakistani, but he comes across as the quintessential politician: offers the prospect of Roti, Kapra, Makaan as the pot at the end of the rainbow that is never reached, and has introduced his children and grand children to propagate such empty slogans after him.

 

[Hitman]

A dead politician (doesnt matter if he is corrupt) in Pakistan becomes a hero. Same is with Mr. Bhutto, Benazir and Mr. Bugti.

Benazir was heinously corrupt, no doubt about it.

 

[Mian]

His big ego cost us so much. Surely the things were already building up from years and establishment deserve bashing too for not being fair but his move of rejecting Mujeeb mandate played the key role in creation of Bangladesh.

 

[Mian]

Benazir was heinously corrupt, no doubt about it.

Benazir was lesser of 3 evils if you compare her with Zardari and Nawaz Sharif.

 

[Loralai]

A man of great talent and skill. Probably the finest politician in terms of talent that we have ever had.

His legacy is mixed - questionable role in 1971 (though one must not discount army role in this matter too - which was the biggest single factor in this tragedy), nationalisation policies largely failed, and he (ironically, in spite of his own secular credentials) took the first steps to bringing Pakistan closer to the middle east economically and culturally by promoting Islam and pandering to the far right by declaring Ahmadi non muslim and banning alcohol for muslims. Lets not forget he is also considered the brains behind the 1965 war too as he was part of Pakistan's cabinet then. His policies also caused some tension between Urdu speakers and Sindhis, I believe.

However, must be given credit for forming Pakistan's first real political party and for strengthening our sense of national morale after 1971. He was a statesman of quality and provided us with a sense of pride. When we look at our history he stands out by a long way. Certainly we would be grateful for a leader of his calibre today given the choices currently available to us.

 

[Fineline]

Interestingly,General Mirza Aslam Baig once recounted in an interview with Waseem Badami that prior to the execution of Bhutto,General Zia Ul Haq was invited to Saudi Arabia by the then King Khalid and Yasir arafat.All three were present inside the Kabah and the exchange between them went along the lines of :-

Khalid and Yasir : Bhutto is a good man.This will not be a right thing to do.Either give him to us or don't hang him.

General Zia : I promise I won't hang him.

According to General Aslam Baig,this was a "Gunah e Kabira" on the part of General Zia Ul Haq.

 

[Fineline]

Benazir was heinously corrupt, no doubt about it.

Benazir empowered her husband Zardari and gave him the license to loot as much as you want whilst taking her share too.She has absolutely no achievements to back herself up since all she could manage to do was to fool the naive Pakistani people by playing the Bhutto card and women card.The only reason she won the elections for the very first time was on account of the accomplishments of her father.She was nothing but a crook.

 

[Major]

His big ego cost us so much. Surely the things were already building up from years and establishment deserve bashing too for not being fair but his move of rejecting Mujeeb mandate played the key role in creation of Bangladesh.

read mujeeb's point. no sane person would had given in to such demands.

one could argue why Mujeb came up with those points, but it was Ayub who was at fault and yahyah aswell. Not ZAB.

 

[Pakpak]

I ain't Pakistani, but he comes across as the quintessential politician: offers the prospect of Roti, Kapra, Makaan as the pot at the end of the rainbow that is never reached, and has introduced his children and grand children to propagate such empty slogans after him.

Summed up perfectly.

 

[Markhor]

The man was and still is an extremely polarizing figure in Pakistan.

He played an extremely terrible part in the 1971 liberation of Bangladesh. I've heard quite a few people from Pakistan on youtube blaming him for the separation of East Pakistan. And rightfully so, he made a lot of terrible blunders in that saga. Bluntly speaking, those actions of his were outright selfish on his part. Those of us who know history are well aware of his actions back then.

But what's also true is that he did quite a lot of good for Pakistan after that saga. He is the one who started Pakistan's nuclear program. It's just one of the many good things he did for Pakistan after the 1971 disaster.

More that the opinion of the rest of the world, I'm more interested in the opinion of our Pakistani brothers. How exactly do you guys perceive him? This is a very interesting topic and I'd love to know the opinion of our Pakistani posters on the man.

read mujeeb's point. no sane person would had given in to such demands.

one could argue why Mujeb came up with those points, but it was Ayub who was at fault and yahyah aswell. Not ZAB.

Yeah I think people get caught up in the Zia era propaganda that blamed Bhutto for 1971 when the facts are more nuanced. Yahya was the head of state and refused to hand over power because "the High Command didn't want to allow a regional party (Awami League) to be able to draft the Constitution" in the words of Brigadier A.R. Siddiqi, the head of the ISPR. The negotiations were deadlocked but they were never officially ended - they were unilaterally abandoned by Yahya who announced the military operation.

Yahya had decided on military action months before and behaved like his British predecessors in dividing and ruling - pitting the PPP and the Awami League against each other whilst plans to roll in the tanks were drawn up. This was despite the fact there were those within the military who argued against an armed intervention - notably Admiral Ahsan and Yaqub Ali Khan. It was drunkard Yahya who postponed the National Assembly session for 3rd March 1971 and didn't announce an alternative date which caused an uproar in the East. Bhutto obviously inflamed the situation by boycotting the NA session leading to an appearance of collusion and that he was delaying on Yahya's behalf.

As for Six Points - Bhutto was in a tough spot. Awami League wanted West Pakistan to assume responsibility for the majority of the federal govt's external debt. East Pakistan was to contribute only 25% of the centre's costs and that was to be set against "reparations" due from West Pakistan. Therefore the costs would be nearly entirely borne by the Western Wing.

If any West Pakistani, let alone a Sindhi, agreed to that it would be political suicide. The PPP itself was divided and would've been opposed especially in Punjab where Bhutto received support in 1970 from military constituencies.

Finally, one thing that has been forgotten is that Mujib even as late as March 1971 presented a final offer to Bhutto of a Confederation of Pakistan whereby Bhutto would govern West Pakistan and Awami League would lead East Pakistan. In other words, Mujib was willing to consider a Bengali "state" that fell short of a fully sovereign independent country. Talk about an avoidable tragedy.

 

[Stewie]

Bhutto and Ayub khan are the only two political leaders who were decent and sincere for Pakistan after say QA and LAK.. he made some bad decisions but those who say he was corrupt, have no idea what they are talking about. Let’s just say not all would have agreed with his policies but had he lived, Pakistan would be much better off today than it is now.

The two elements that doomed him, religious fanaticism and corrupt military leadership, have resulted in the current sad state of Pakistan.

 

[moghul]

The worst thing ever happened to Pakistan, along with Zia-ul-Haq.

 

[Stewie]

The worst thing ever happened to Pakistan, along with Zia-ul-Haq.

Zia alone was the worst thing to happen to Pakistan.. he easily wins that title without any help from ZAB!

 

[moghul]

He wanted and worked to breakaway the then East Pakistan, that was the only way he could have become the PM. Threatening Mujib who should have been the PM instead of him by winning more seats in national assembly. ZAF was a traitor .

 

[Mian]

Definitely sickening, he himself was a crazy traitor. His genes carried on his daughter and now grandson.

He once wrote a letter to president Iskander Mirza declaring him a bigger leader than Jinnah

 

[moghul]

Benazir was lesser of 3 evils if you compare her with Zardari and Nawaz Sharif.

Benazir was the most corrupt one , her supporters try to blame Mr.10% for all that but at end of the day she was the PM. She is dead but you can't change the history , no sympathy for the corrupt leaders, country comes first for me.

 

[Hitman]

I've just started reading Benazir's autobiography, and she has written in the very first pages about her and her family's experience regarding her father's execution. I've enjoyed reading to book so far. Have just read the first few pages. Will update more in time on what she has to say regarding her father.