BY : Sharjeel Inam Memon
Minister for Information and Transport, Government of Sindh.
When we say “Zinda Hai Bhutto Zinda Hai,” some people mock this slogan due to their biased and narrow,minded thinking, without reflecting on their own conduct. These individuals are unaware of history. They do not realize that throughout political history, many great leaders have risen to the height of popularity and sparked revolutions that changed the course of events , yet, over time, history has proven their political philosophies to be flawed, rendering them politically irrelevant.
These leaders, despite their mass appeal, often gained public support by promoting extremism and provocation. The change or upheaval they brought about, though initially popular, ultimately proved disastrous , both for themselves, their political parties, and the people they claimed to represent. Such figures have included politicians from both the right and left, nationalists, religious ideologues, and military opportunists alike.
There are a few political leaders in history whose philosophies remain alive and relevant even today. It can truly be said that such leaders are still alive , both spatially and temporally , because of the enduring relevance of their political thinking and approach. One such leader is Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.
Shaheed Bhutto was a visionary statesman with a deep understanding of history. He crafted his political vision with careful consideration of historical experiences. His political philosophy rests on three fundamental principles:
First, that the interests of one’s country and nation must always take precedence in foreign policy. National dignity and sovereignty should not be compromised under any circumstance.
Second, that a nation’s internal problems must be addressed from within, by empowering the oppressed and marginalized classes, nationalities, and social groups. Their right to resources must be recognized, they must be economically uplifted, and guaranteed fundamental human rights, including civil liberties.
Third, that in order to realize the above two principles, one must follow the path of a long, patient, and democratic struggle , a struggle that is peaceful, sustainable, and capable of delivering gradual progress and lasting victories. This democratic path is far superior to any destructive adventure or chaos. History shows that chaos only serves the interests of imperialist and anti,people forces, as it undermines the gains achieved through peaceful democratic movements. That is why these forces fear and target those who champion peaceful democratic struggle.
The unmatched sacrifices of the Bhutto family, and of the leaders and workers of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), stand as proof of this unwavering commitment. The PPP’s journey of peaceful struggle and sacrifice continues to this day.
If today Pakistan has a federal, parliamentary, democratic constitution… if democracy exists… if the federating units and the people have achieved anything , it is because of Shaheed Bhutto and the Pakistan Peoples Party that carried forward his vision.
Grounded in Bhutto’s political philosophy, the PPP continues its journey as the true representative party of the people. And that is why Bhutto is still alive today.
To understand Shaheed Bhutto’s political vision and philosophy, it is essential to study his writings, interviews, and speeches in depth. On November 30, 1967, during the founding session of the Pakistan People’s Party, Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto presented the “Basic Documents” he had authored, which were formally adopted by the party. These documents declared: “Islam is our religion, democracy is our politics, socialism is our economy, and the people are the source of power.”
To elaborate on these foundational principles, Shaheed Bhutto wrote a detailed program for the Pakistan People’s Party in April 1968, in which he stated:
“Pakistan is caught in a whirlpool. When we look back on the last 20 years of our national life, we see a dangerous trend that has emerged alongside both international and subcontinental challenges. It would be unreasonable to regard this crisis as a routine occurrence of the times or as the result of a natural process. This dominant negative trend must be reversed.”
A scholar and political leader like Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto is born once in centuries. He viewed situations through a broad international and historical lens. His thinking was never superficial; it was deep, thoughtful, and visionary. At the time he founded the Pakistan People’s Party, the global communist movement was at its peak, and socialist revolutions were sweeping across various regions. Yet, Shaheed Bhutto had his eyes set on the future. He foresaw the eventual outcomes of the communist movement.
Rather than raising slogans in favor of communist dictatorship, he declared democracy as his political path,something that even socialist states were eventually compelled to adopt, though only after enduring immense turmoil. Shaheed Bhutto declared socialism not as politics, but as an economic system, a distinction he clearly articulated in the Party’s Basic Documents and its detailed program.
He argued that capitalism in Pakistan was fundamentally different from that in Europe or other developed capitalist nations. In those countries, capitalism functioned alongside democracy and civil liberties. In Pakistan, however, it had become a tool of exploitation, concentrated in the hands of just 22 families. These families plundered wealth in the name of capitalism, opposed democratic rights, and were aligned with dictatorial regimes. They neither ran their factories at full capacity nor allowed broader industrialization. Under the guise of industries and loans, they misappropriated state capital.
As a result, new job opportunities were not being created, and the rural majority continued to suffer from extreme poverty. Importantly, the Basic Documents did not reject private investment outright. Instead, they clearly stated:
“Private investment will be allowed only on the basis of merit, efficiency, and legitimate profit,making , not on the basis of patronage of influential families or corrupt elements within the bureaucracy. Private investment can be beneficial, but only when the working class is treated as an equal partner in profit,making.”
Shaheed Bhutto believed in socialism, but he emphasized that socialism cannot be imposed through decrees or dictatorship. The establishment of a classless and socialist society , and the elimination of capitalist exploitation , must occur through a historical process. This journey, he stressed, could only be completed through democracy, under a people,centric political program.
Another remarkable achievement of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was that he not only gave Pakistan a federal, parliamentary, democratic system of government through the 1973 Constitution, but also addressed long,standing grievances by granting maximum autonomy to the federating units, thus reducing the sense of deprivation among them.
Shaheed Bhutto also provided Pakistan with a neutral and independent foreign policy, which he elaborated in his book “The Myth of Independence.” He opposed turning Pakistan into a pawn of American interests and consistently advocated for strengthening ties with China. However, he was equally clear that Pakistan’s national interests must remain paramount, even in its relationship with China.
Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto offered a historically proven solution to every national crisis with his unwavering belief that the people are the true source of power. In times of crisis, he asserted, the only viable path is to return to the people. This is the essence of Bhuttoism,an ideology rooted in popular will and democratic engagement. No other ideology has proven to be as effective or enduring.
Unfortunately, Pakistan was repeatedly led in directions contrary to Shaheed Bhutto’s vision and philosophy. The country was drawn into the strategic games of global powers, military regimes were imposed, and at various times, ethnic, linguistic, regional, religious, and so,called political extremism was deliberately cultivated to counter the influence of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP).
Today, Pakistan once again finds itself trapped in the very whirlpool Shaheed Bhutto warned about in his prophetic book, “If I Am Assassinated.” Following his judicial execution, Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto upheld his political philosophy and gave her life in the struggle to rescue the nation from crisis.
Now, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari continues this journey. In the spirit of Shaheed Bhutto’s words, Bilawal is forging a connection with the people, aligning himself with their hopes, needs, and aspirations. Shaheed Bhutto remains alive,not just in memory, but in leadership,because he chose to embrace martyrdom at the hands of a dictator rather than be condemned by history.
Today, history stands as a witness to the validity of Bhutto’s political philosophy. In the current national context, there is an urgent need to revisit and realign with the vision of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.
